Category: travel

DUE to track improvement work this Sunday, Chiltern Railways is making some changes to its scheduled services.
This will affect passengers travelling on the Aylesbury ? Amersham ? London Marylebone section of the line only. Before travelling passengers are advised to check for service alterations at their local staffed stations, by calling the Chiltern Railways enquiry line on 08456 005165 (07:00hrs to 20:00hrs) or visiting www.chilternrailways.co.uk where full timetable information is provided.

Service summary
Saturday 26 November

OXFORDSHIRE County Council is seeking views on how to improve transport in the county over the next five years.

The council already has some proposals as part of its Local Transport Plan for 2006-2011 which aims to meet five overall objectives: to tackle congestion, reduce road casualties, improve accessibility, improve air quality and improve the street environment.

Over the next five years, around

THE Thame Walking and Cycling group, TWAC, have already donated three bicycles to Lord Williams’ school, to enable teachers to cycle between Lower school in Towersey Road, and Upper school, in the Oxford Road.
The idea has proved so popular among the teaching staff, that they need more.
Therefore, anyone with either men?s or women?s bicycles, in good working order, looking for a good home, (must be in good working order), is asked to telephone 01844 261430.

Photo: Thame cyclists joined hundreds of bike-riders from all over the country recently, who converged on Cambridge for a festival to celebrate 10,000 miles of National Cycle way.
The group where among those who cycled from Oxford to Cambridge.

Track Improvement Works: Saturday 15 October.
Due to track improvement and engineering work this Saturday,Oct 15, Chiltern Railways is making some changes to its scheduled services.
Before travelling passengers are advised to check for service alterations at their local staffed stations, by calling the Chiltern Railways enquiry line on 08456 005165 (07:00hrs to 20:00hrs) or visiting www.chilternrailways.co.uk where full timetable information is provided.
Service summary:
Marylebone station will be closed to all trains on Saturday 15 October. Services will run into Paddington station instead. Full details follow:

Saturday 15 October
Kidderminster – Birmingham ? Stratford-upon-Avon – Leamington Spa – Banbury – London
Aylesbury – High Wycombe ? London

THE Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway will be holding it’s Autumn Gala On Sunday, September 25, when all available locomotives will be in operation.
These will include a 1949 built Pannier tank No 9682, Aveling and Porter tram engine No 9449 ‘Blue Circle’ built in 1926, Brush Class 31 No D5581 built in 1960 and B.R. Class 08 No 13018 built at Derby in 1953.
A special timetable will apply – telephone the talking timetable on 01844 353535 for details.

During the day, CPRR we will be hosting a visit by the Rolls Royce Enthusiast Club who will be bringing approx 20 to 25 Rolls Royce and Bentley cars to Chinnor station.

A SUBSTANTIAL make-over at Haddenham & Thame Parkway railway station began this week.
The refurbshment will include a new enclosed foyer, including a covered seating area, new retail outlet, new toilets with disabled access and an additional information screen.
The work is expected to take eight to nine weeks during which time the ticket office may be closed on occassions and extra staff on hand to assist passengers.

Chiltern Railways Marketing Manager, David Whitley, said: ?Haddenham & Thame Parkway has become increasingly busy in recent years, and we recognise that the facilities have become inadequate. The planned refurbishment works will significantly improve the quality of the station for the thousands who use it each week.?

PASSENGERS who use Chiltern Railways received welcome news today as the remaining Tesco tunnel structure at Gerrards Cross was declared safe and a firm date was set for normal services to resume.

The Gerrards Cross route will re-open on Saturday 20 August, and a complete service for commuters will resume from Monday 22 August. Engineers are working around the clock in the tunnel, rebuilding the track and signalling that was damaged by the collapse.

Since the tunnel collapsed on 30 June, Tesco and its contractors have removed over 25,000 tonnes of earth and some 60m of tunnel structure. Independent engineering experts have thoroughly reviewed the tunnel design, the building methodology and the earth used as infill, which all form part of the overall tunnel design and agree with Tesco and its consultants that the structure is safe for the passage of trains.

Chiltern Rail have said: “The underlying cause of the accident is still subject to a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation, but initial views are that the loading sequence used in the construction of the tunnel was the major factor that caused the collapse.”
(Ed. i.e. rumour has it that earth was piled on TOP of the arch of the tunnel, before it had been piled up on either side first!)

John Armitt, Network Rail?s Chief Executive, said: ?Now we are satisfied that the tunnel is safe; our engineers have moved in and will be working night and day, rebuilding the track and signalling damaged in the tunnel collapse, to get trains moving once again. I appreciate the last seven weeks have been extremely frustrating for passengers, however we could not contemplate re-opening the line unless were satisfied that the Tesco Tunnel was completely safe.?

Cath Proctor, Managing Director for Chiltern Railways, said: ?We are very pleased to be able to restore our full timetable, including two trains an hour between London and Birmingham. Re-opening the line at Gerrards Cross is what passengers have been waiting for and we are relieved that, after seven weeks, Network Rail, HMRI and Tesco are fully confident that the line is safe to enable us to run trains through the area. We thank all our passengers for their patience throughout this difficult time and look forward to providing our usual frequent, reliable and efficient service. The tunnel collapse on 30 June has caused major disruption to some of our passengers, but we have tried, in very difficult circumstances, to run the very best possible service.?

The Rail company say: “The future of the tunnel and the Tesco superstore is a matter for Tesco. Much more evaluation work is needed before any potential future work will be allowed on the remaining tunnel.”

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THE A4129, Thame Road, Kingsey, will be closed for the next three months while work to strengthen the railway bridge is carried out.
Work began on August 8, and is due to finish on October 27.
Diversion signs are in place.

SINGLE lane restrictions will be in operation along the Thame to Shabbington Road, A418, for 12 weeks while Oxfordshire County Council construct a Cycle Path.
Work will begin on 18 August for 12 weeks until 10 November 2005.

Whilst work on the installation of a Zebra crossing at Towersey Road, Thame, is carried out, there will be a single lane restriction along part of Towersey Road.
The work is expected to take until September 30.