The line and route aren't " open" to commercial services yet.This is a test train, with no passengers aboard, and will be the first of many until actual commercial services begin in 2025. It tests that signals, etc., are working correctly, track quality, platform clearances, etc as well as different types of rolling stock, however its a great step forward for a project that is both on time and apparently within budget. Pity it wasn't built to be electrified from the start as it connects to electrified tracks at each end, but that is the usual British short-termism at work. At least it has been built so that it could be electrified in future.
@@alistairkewish651 Exactly, same here. So much better than taking the uncomfortable X5 bus (that used to be a coach) for 2 hours, I don’t care if it’s diesel or electric train And it’s not really short-termism if we’re planning for future electrification is it? Real short-termism would be if we didn’t think about it at all!
@@EM-yk1dw What does the bus have to do with this video? The point of the train line reopening is because the cities are connected so poorly by public transport so far. The bus is completely irrelevant. So & often requires a change in Buckingham anyway.
@@TrainPlaneHub Not Sure, the Oxford-Cambridge Bus Service was Percival's of Oxford for many years, was it actually commissioned as a rail replacement service ( though actually may have pre-dated closure from the 1920s as the "inter-varsity" coach service , I used to know full details but the memory fades. There will be intermediate stops on the bus which will still make if of use , and it depends what the train fares are set at.
Chiltern will need way more rolling stock with this and the Oxford - Marylebone servies and/or a cut back of trains north of Birmingham Moor Street. They struggle with the existing services due to the small fleet of trains on estate as it is
@@TrainPlaneHub The Bedford connection is gonna change the system completely as well considering the X5's dependent on the lack of the current train route
Was commissioned yesterday apparently. GWR also sent an 800 to MKC this morning too. Just for a spin on the new route & presumably to clear 80Xs down there
As is usual in this country a relatively cheap track upgrade and a connector to EWR are sacrificed to save money whilst the adjacent HS2 costs balloon exponentially.
You will have to change at Bletchley for the Marston Vale line to Bedford. I'm not sure if that will be closed for upgrading or done with trains still running.
@@Owen_trains2010I think you're misunderstanding slightly. It's just Chiltern Railways that are only operating between Oxford and MK so far. The eventual full route of EWR will run from Oxford to Cambridge via Bedford (and likely even further at both ends), but these things take time (especially in the UK). Phase 1 (Oxford - Bletchley/MK) is very nearly completed, just testing left to do. Phase 2 will require upgrading the Marston Vale line as it's not suitable for the significantly higher levels of rail traffic that will eventually be operating on that stretch of track. To get to Cambridge though a whole new railway needs to be built which is still only in the planning stage, so it's gonna take some time. Not particularly unfair as the phase 1 stretch was by far the easiest to complete, but I can understand that it's frustrating how long it's taken.
The absurdity of running diesel-burning trains on a new service along a renovated route. The route should have been electrified with OLE during the refurbishment. Eventually, electrification will have to be retrofitted, and that will cost more than including it in the original project, and will disrupt an established service.
I live in Bicester, at the centre of the EWR operation, and I didn't realise that this part is now operational. Wow! All they need to do now is sort out the rest of the line to Bedford.
@@TheCyberSalvager Yes, much along the old route Bedford to Cambridge is lost to developments and change of use. A completely new route heading North then East out of Bedford and crossing the ECML North of Sandy is proposed but the nimby's are up in arms about it. I had hoped to travel the entire route one day but am likely to have died before completion.
@@TrainPlaneHub Govt via the track provider, there appears surprise its not electrified ( lack of significant passenger numbers ). At some time bi/tri modes may be in place, depends I guess if Marylebone - Birmingham gets electrified
Outstanding! My dad was a driver on this line in the past, I cannot wait to get on from Bletchley.
Its the 8th wonder of the world - a new rail service in the UK!!!!!
Technically a restored railway service.
Is that a HS2 joke😭
UK has the fastest growing rail network in Europe and has for 20 years.
Thanks for sharing, I didn’t realize ewr services were coming to MKC I thought they’d continue along the Marston vale to Bedford.
eventually there will be services both to MK and to Bedford- though Bedford services may have to wait until upgrades are done on the Marston Vale line
The line and route aren't " open" to commercial services yet.This is a test train, with no passengers aboard, and will be the first of many until actual commercial services begin in 2025. It tests that signals, etc., are working correctly, track quality, platform clearances, etc as well as different types of rolling stock, however its a great step forward for a project that is both on time and apparently within budget. Pity it wasn't built to be electrified from the start as it connects to electrified tracks at each end, but that is the usual British short-termism at work. At least it has been built so that it could be electrified in future.
There's no electrification at its western end.
I am looking forward to travelling on the line once it is open. Whatever.
@@V8Bluebottle Nor will there be until the Oxford station rebuild is complete
@@alistairkewish651 Exactly, same here. So much better than taking the uncomfortable X5 bus (that used to be a coach) for 2 hours, I don’t care if it’s diesel or electric train
And it’s not really short-termism if we’re planning for future electrification is it? Real short-termism would be if we didn’t think about it at all!
Need a link from Aylesbury !
That somes up British
Infrastructure, 7 years to lay 100 mile track
The really hard part is going to be pressing on to Cambridge, what with being unable to use the original formation beyond where it fizzles out…..
Great catch
When they start to run a direct service between Oxford and Milton Keynes, that'd severely impact the X5 bus. Interesting development though......
This is nothing new. The route has been being rebuilt for years. Now you won’t have to suffer the X5 but take the train in just over 40 mins to Oxford
@@EM-yk1dw What does the bus have to do with this video? The point of the train line reopening is because the cities are connected so poorly by public transport so far. The bus is completely irrelevant. So & often requires a change in Buckingham anyway.
@@TrainPlaneHub Not Sure, the Oxford-Cambridge Bus Service was Percival's of Oxford for many years, was it actually commissioned as a rail replacement service ( though actually may have pre-dated closure from the 1920s as the "inter-varsity" coach service , I used to know full details but the memory fades. There will be intermediate stops on the bus which will still make if of use , and it depends what the train fares are set at.
Chiltern will need way more rolling stock with this and the Oxford - Marylebone servies and/or a cut back of trains north of Birmingham Moor Street. They struggle with the existing services due to the small fleet of trains on estate as it is
@@TrainPlaneHub The Bedford connection is gonna change the system completely as well considering the X5's dependent on the lack of the current train route
Since both GWR and chiltern railways are running test trains, which one will be operating the new service?
Chiltern are running it. The GWR was just a one off I think. To clear 80X units down there
@@TrainPlaneHubmuch appreciated
Saw it while on the bus today 😂 didn't even realise it was a test run
Cześć.. Wspaniałe udostępnienie video.. Pozdrawiam.😊😊😊
I didn’t even know it had opened
Was commissioned yesterday apparently. GWR also sent an 800 to MKC this morning too. Just for a spin on the new route & presumably to clear 80Xs down there
@@TrainPlaneHub Jeezus
@@TrainPlaneHubdo you think GWR will run services from milton to Cardiff ?
@@Trainhead not currently planned- but who knows what could happen in the future
@@MercenaryPen hoping so, would be cool to have direct services between them !
Will chillern operate this route or will it be a new TOC for EWR?
It's earmarked for Chiltern.
Chiltern will operate it with WMR 196's on lease to them
Not from March it won’t be. GBR won’t be taking over until at least 2027
Hoping as someone who lives in Aylesbury that one day we will get access to this line.
Do we know what stops are in between?
As is usual in this country a relatively cheap track upgrade and a connector to EWR are sacrificed to save money whilst the adjacent HS2 costs balloon exponentially.
only new station is at Winslow- from there it plugs into the existing Bicester to Oxford route
I Never Knew Chiltern Railways Now Operated To MKC! That Is Suprising! 😀
Passenger services to Oxford start next year.
Why 168s? Shouldnt Chiltern already be familiar with the class 196s as planned?
Driver training on them starts in December I believe. Not yet
Will they also run to Bedford
No I don’t believe so. Not yet anyway. The first stage of East / West Rail is just Oxford to Milton Keynes
You will have to change at Bletchley for the Marston Vale line to Bedford. I'm not sure if that will be closed for upgrading or done with trains still running.
@@acb6256Well that does seem slightly unfair
@@acb6256And Plus you clearly making no point anyway because they did say they were going to run to Bedford and Cambridge didn’t they 😑😒
@@Owen_trains2010I think you're misunderstanding slightly. It's just Chiltern Railways that are only operating between Oxford and MK so far. The eventual full route of EWR will run from Oxford to Cambridge via Bedford (and likely even further at both ends), but these things take time (especially in the UK). Phase 1 (Oxford - Bletchley/MK) is very nearly completed, just testing left to do. Phase 2 will require upgrading the Marston Vale line as it's not suitable for the significantly higher levels of rail traffic that will eventually be operating on that stretch of track. To get to Cambridge though a whole new railway needs to be built which is still only in the planning stage, so it's gonna take some time. Not particularly unfair as the phase 1 stretch was by far the easiest to complete, but I can understand that it's frustrating how long it's taken.
Do i See Chiltern Railway Board say Merry Christmas?!
Yes 😂😂
@TrainPlaneHub Wow, that's a fail 👎😂
@@TrainPlaneHub HAHAHAHAHA oh my day!
I like your Video ❤❤❤❤
The absurdity of running diesel-burning trains on a new service along a renovated route. The route should have been electrified with OLE during the refurbishment. Eventually, electrification will have to be retrofitted, and that will cost more than including it in the original project, and will disrupt an established service.
Do you know when in 2025 we can expect it to begin operation? The sooner the better lol
Only hourly, it should be half hourly surely?
It’s a new route. Time will tell it’s popularity
I assume they're keeping spare capacity for services from Oxford to Bedford after the Marston Vale line sees improvements
Well that’s not something you see everyday is it now 😉
I’m not sure where the “East” bit comes into play. 😴🤨🤨
The bit when it continues to Cambridge.
I live in Bicester, at the centre of the EWR operation, and I didn't realise that this part is now operational. Wow! All they need to do now is sort out the rest of the line to Bedford.
And the route from Bedford to Cambridge.
@@peebee143 Wasn't that part of the line lifted after it was closed?
@@TheCyberSalvager Yes, much along the old route Bedford to Cambridge is lost to developments and change of use. A completely new route heading North then East out of Bedford and crossing the ECML North of Sandy is proposed but the nimby's are up in arms about it. I had hoped to travel the entire route one day but am likely to have died before completion.
They've spent all that money and it's still a chugging old smoker! How does that happen?
Who’s they? Who do you think spent money…?
@@TrainPlaneHub Govt via the track provider, there appears surprise its not electrified ( lack of significant passenger numbers ). At some time bi/tri modes may be in place, depends I guess if Marylebone - Birmingham gets electrified
Nothing wrong with 168/170 class,,,,diesels rock!!!