The Anonymous Widower

Bicester Village Station – 28th May 2025

I went to Bicester Village station today and took these pictures.

Note.

  1. The station is fully step-free, with lifts.
  2. There is a reasonable coffee-shop.
  3. There is a very large car-park.

There are two trains per hour (tph) in both directions between Marylebone and Oxford stations.

This Google Map shows the station.

Note.

  1. London is to the North.
  2. Oxford is to the South.
  3. The footbridge dates from October 2021 and is not shown on the map.
  4. The London Road level crossing is in the North-East corner of the map.
  5. The London Road level crossing is a problem, as I indicated in Bicester MP Calls On Chancellor To Fund London Road Crossing.
  6. To take the pictures of the level crossing, I crossed the footbridge to the North-West side of the station and walked through the car park to the station entrance on Station Approach. I then walked past the Bicester Bodyshop and Edmundson Electrical to the level crossing.
  7. The Shell garage can be clearly seen behind the level crossing.

During my walk of about thirty-five minutes three trains passed over the level crossing.

These are my thoughts.

The Long Platforms

The platforms are long.

  • The Oxford-bound platform, which is Platform 1, is 240 metres long.
  • The London-bound platform, which is Platform 2, is 230 metres long.

Both platforms will take a pair of five-car Hitachi Express Trains.

It looks to me, that East-West Rail are expecting a large number of passengers.

East-West Rail Plans For Powering Trains

I detailed these in Plans For Powering Trains And Details Of Our Upcoming Consultation.This post was based on an East-West Rail news item with the same title.

Distances include.

  • London Marylebone and Oxford – 66.8 miles.
  • Bletchley and Oxford – 47.2 miles.

Both distances are within range of five-car Hitachi Express Trains, that have been fitted with batteries.

I also suspect other manufacturers could supply suitable trains.

Thoughts On The London Road Level Crossing

This article on the BBC is entitled Level Crossing Petition Supported By Thousands.

This is the sub-heading.

A petition calling for a fully accessible underpass at a town’s level crossing has received more than 3,000 signatures.

These three paragraphs add more detail.

Launched by MP for Bicester and Woodstock Calum Miller, the petition calls on the government to ensure any replacement of the level crossing at London Road in Bicester includes access for cars, not just cyclists and pedestrians.

It is set to be closed on safety grounds when the East West Rail (EWR) line becomes fully operational, which many fear would cut off crucial access to thousands of residents.

Mr Miller will present the petition, which can only be signed in person, in Parliament on 3 June.

The argument is certainly hotting up.

But I believe, that a bridge that meets everybody’s requirements might be possible to be built.

  • Suppose that all trains and locomotives passing through the level crossing had to be self-powered. Passenger trains could be battery-electric and freight locomotives could be either hydrogen or battery powered through the location of the level crossing.
  • The track could also be lowered through the crossing.
  • These actions would reduce the height of any bridge taking the road over the railway.

It looks to me that on the Northumberland Railway, which has recently opened, they had a similar problem, but they were able to squeeze a bridge into the space, as this 3D Google Map shows.

Note.

  1. The bridge looks like it carries a two-lane road and a pedestrian/cycle way.
  2. There is no electrification.
  3. I believe that the Northumberland Line could be run by battery-electric trains.
  4. The road bridge has been built to accept all traffic using the railway.

In Newsham Station – 30th March 2025, there are several pictures of the bridge. This one shows the bridge with a train.

In Trains: £34m For Revival Of 50-Year-Old North-East Railway Line, I said this about battery-electric trains for the Northumberland Line.

I’m drawn inextricably to the conclusion, that the trains should be 100 mph battery-electric trains.

Hitachi, who have a factory in the North-East, have announced their Regional Battery Train in July 2020, which is described in this Hitachi infographic.

These trains can be based on Class 385 trains.

  • They are 100 mph trains.
  • They come in three- and four-cars lengths.
  • The three-car trains have 206 seats.
  • They can work in pairs.
  • They can use 25 KVAC overhead electrification.
  • They have a range of 90 kilometres or 56 miles on battery power.
  • The batteries would be charged on the ECML between Benton North junction and Newcastle station.
  • The battery packs will be designed and manufactured by Hyperdrive Innovation in Sunderland.
  • They have big windows for the views.

I’m sure Hitachi and Hyperdrive would like a fleet in service, just up the road from their factories.

Could a similar or even thinner bridge be squeezed in at Bicester Village station to take London Road over the railway?

I think it can, if they use some of the latest 3D modelling.

 

May 28, 2025 Posted by | Design, Energy, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

An Alternative Lift At Caledonian Road and Barnsbury Station

I went to look at something this morning, that might have made a post for this blog.

But as it wasn’t worth photographing, I decided to come home and decided to take a train home from Caledonian Road and Barnsbury station.

The station is of a slightly unusual design, which is described in Is Caledonian Road And Barnsbury An Ideal Four-Track Station?.

There is a wide island platform, where the Overground trains call on either side, which is connected to the station exit, by a half-bridge with lifts.

It was an affordable way to make the station accessible for all.

But today the lift on the island platform had failed.

  • As I approached the bridge on entering the station, a London Overground station-man was waving at me from the island platform.
  • He shouted at me, that the lift on the island platform had failed.
  • So I took the working lift and then walked across to the central lift tower, with its failed lift.
  • He met me at the top of the stairs and offered to escort me down.
  • But I said, that if I could go down the right hand side, with my good arm on the rail, I’d be OK.
  • He said that would be fine and he watched me descend, which I did safely.
  • Whilst I was there, two mothers with young children in buggies arrived on a train. So after a quick chat, the mothers carried their children up the stairs and he carried the buggies.

London Overground had certainly setup an alternative approach, that should work well until the lift is repaired.

Getting Home From Caledonian Road and Barnsbury Station

The Balls Pond Road of Round The Horne and Beyond Our Ken fame in the 1950s and 1960s, runs between Highbury and Islington and Dalston Junction stations.

  • I live about half way between the two stations and as, what would have been my nearest station; Mildmay Park closed in 1934, I have to get a bus from Dalston Junction to get home.
  • Today, though, I took a slightly longer route, but one with minimal walking.
  • I took a train four stops to Hackney Central station.
  • I used the bridge with lifts to cross the tracks at Hackney Central station.
  • I exited Hackney Central station through the second exit on Graham Road, that was opened in 2022.
  • After crossing Graham Road on a light-controlled crossing, I was able to catch a 38 bus to within a hundred metres of my house.

There would be no case for reopening Mildmay Park station, but as I get older this route is the easiest.

May 14, 2025 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Wigan Wallgate To Headbolt Lane – 10th May 2025

I was now running late and decided to go back to Liverpool via the Kirkby Branch Line, with a change of train at Headbolt Lane.

I took these pictures along the route.

Note.

  1. Wigan Wallgate station could be refurbished into a quality station.
  2. Manchester to Wigan Wallgate is likely to be electrified, as I wrote in Bolton-Wigan £78m Rail Electrification Project Announced.
  3. Headbolt Lane station is a new station.
  4. The other stations on the line are fairly rudimentary affairs.
  5. Only Headbolt Lane station is step-free, as all platforms are on the same level.

The Kirkby Branch Line runs across the flat Lancashire countryside.

This Google Map shows the unusual layout of Headbolt Lane station.

Note.

  1. Liverpool is to the South-West.
  2. Wigan and Manchester are to the North-East.
  3. The station buildings and the car parks are on the North side of the tracks.
  4. There are two platforms pointing towards Liverpool.
  5. There is a single platform pointing towards Wigan.
  6. There is a second track pointing towards Wigan, that has no platform.
  7. None of the tracks are electrified.
  8. Three red buffer stops can be picked out.
  9. Trains to Liverpool are run by battery-electric Class 777 multiple units.
  10. Trains to Wigan and Manchester are run by diesel multiple units.

All platforms are the same level and you can walk from one side of the station to the other between the buffer stops.

It is effectively a step-free three-platform station without lifts or escalators.

I have never seen another station like it!

Modernising The Route Between Wigan Wallgate And Headbolt Lane

Consider.

  • With the exception of Headbolt Lane station, there is no step-free access on this line and that needs to be addressed.
  • Wigan Wallgate station has an island platform, with steps to the street.
  • With the exception of Headbolt Lane station, there is very little parking.
  • The Class 150 diesel multiple units are forty years old.

The distance between Wigan Wallgate and Headbolt Lane stations is about 15 miles.

 

May 12, 2025 Posted by | Design, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dore & Totley Station – 1st April 2025

It seems like only yesterday, when I visisited Dore and Totley station and wrote Dore And Totley Station – 13th July 2020, when I took these pictures.

But it was yesterday, when I visited the station again and look at the station now.

Note.

  1. The footbridge is in keeping with the original station building.
  2. The only changes to the original station building, is a small amount of tasteful restoration.
  3. The footbridge is high enough for future electrification.
  4. There are one shelter on the entry/car park and two on the far side.
  5. As I watched several Class 158, Class 195 and Class 222 trains pass through, it appears that the curve has been profiled for speed.
  6. I am pretty sure, that the station has been designed so that if required, at least one extra platform can be added to the Chesterfield Lines.
  7. The Rajdhani Restaurant in the original station building is rated 4.2 on Trip Advisor, which says they do gluten-free options.
  8. The maximum speed through the station appears to be 50 mph, with 70 mph on the Chesterfield Lines.

From my brief visit, it appears to be another  station, that has been superbly updates.

Let’s bring on a few more.

April 2, 2025 Posted by | Food, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Seaton Delaval Station – 30th March 2025

After I’d taken the pictures at Newsham station, I took the train to the next station on the way back to Newcastle ; Seaton Delaval station.

I took these pictures of the single platform station.

Note.

  1. It is a step-free single platform station.
  2. There are disabled parking spaces.
  3. It looks like charging points for electric vehicles have been installed, but not commissioned.
  4. Two disabled parking spaces will be for electric vehicles.
  5. There is space behind the platform for emergency service vehicles.
  6. There is a shelter and several sets of seats.
  7. The station connects to the local footpath network.
  8. There is good provision of litter bins.

It is one of the best single-platform stations I have seen.

I had a problem, at the station, in that my onward train was cancelled, due to a staff shortage.

However, the guy manning Northern’s Help Point, told me, that there was a pub by the station entrance.

So I walked the two hundred metres to the pub.

Note.

  1. The Hasting Arms has a gluten-free menu.
  2. The lunch was delicious and even the Yorkshires and the desserts were gluten-free.
  3. There is also a shop nearby.
  4. The landlord also said, that the new railway had brought more business.

I was also able to sit in the warm for an hour.

I have only one criticism of the station. There needs to be a local information board, giving a local map, and details of the pub, shop, buses and taxis.

March 31, 2025 Posted by | Food, Transport/Travel | , , , , , | 3 Comments

Newsham Station – 30th March 2025

Today, I went to Newcastle and took a ride to the recently-opened ; Newsham station on the Northumberland Line.

Note.

  1. The road bridge over the railway.
  2. When complete there will be a lot of parking space.
  3. The orange bollards in the parking could be electric vehicle chargers, ready to be unveiled.
  4. The full step-free access over the railway via the lifts is already working.
  5. British Railways, its predecessors and many other countries would have just put in a level crossing.
  6. The Completed platform is wide.
  7. Both platforms already have a shelter.
  8. There are help points, information displays, facilities for those with limited hearing and readers for smart ticketing on both platforms.
  9. There is a ticket machine by both lift towers.
  10. The disabled parking is already marked out.
  11. The brickwork and other workmanship is top-class.
  12. There is space behind the platforms for taxis, buses and emergency service vehicles.
  13. There is enough clearance under the two bridges for overhead electrification.

There is still some finishing off and landscaping to do, but it is a station with everything.

I have some other thoughts.

The High Quality Lifts Are By Stannah

Several of the passengers I saw, were getting on in years.

Does the maker of the well-advertised stair-lifts use station lifts, which are likely to be used by those of reduced mobilility, as a promotional tool?

The Station Will Be One Of The Best Rural Stations In The UK, When It is Complete

I can see other stations on a similar theme being built.

Especially, where a level crossing is to be eliminated.

This Google Map shows the level crossing and former station at Six Mile Bottom, near where I used to live.

Note.

  1. The Cambridge and Newmarket railway goes across the map.
  2. Cambridge is to the West and Newmarket is to the East.
  3. The main Newmarket to London road crosses the railway here in a level crossing.
  4. Newmarket is to the North and London and the M11 is to the South.
  5. There used to be a station here and some want it back.
  6. There have been several incidents on the level crossing and Greater Anglia have had serious damage to more than one train.

A station like Newsham would be ideal here.

I can see Morgan Sindall building a few more on this theme.

Could they licence the design to construction companies all over the world?

I’ve certainly, seen similar layouts in Eastern Poland, where there are lots of level crossing accidents, according to our guide on one trip. But he said Russia is a lot worse for level crossing accidents.

March 30, 2025 Posted by | Design, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Now That’s What I Call A Station!

Newsham station on the Northumberland Line opens on Monday and I was alerted to the design of the station, by this page on the Northumberland Chronicle.

I clipped this drone view of the station from the page.

Note.

  1. It almost looks like two stations, one for the Northbound line and one for the Southbound.
  2. There appears to be a by-pass for those not wanting to visit the station.
  3. There is a traditional step-free bridge with lifts.
  4. Each half-station appears to have bus stops, car parking, disabled car-parking and a drop-off lane.
  5. There is a well-marked walking route to bring travellers to the station.

This Google map shows the layout of the station.

To say it’s different is an understatement. But I like it and I can’t wait to jump on a Lumo to go and see it, in all its new reality.

I hope all those connected with the design and architecture have got evening wear, as given the awards they’re going to win, they’ll need them.

March 16, 2025 Posted by | Design, Transport/Travel | , , , , , | 1 Comment

Stowmarket Station – 14th March 2025

tThe one and only time, that I’ve used Stowmarket station, was when I’d taken my Lotus in for a service near Diss and I was getting back to Newmarket, with a change at the station.

So as I was going to Stowmarket station, I felt with the judicious use of a East Anglian Ranger ticket, I could combine the trips to Stowmarket and Saxmundham stations.

I also wanted to look at the progress on the new footbridge that I wrote about in Stowmarket Station To Go Step-Free.

I took these pictures.

Note.

  1. I arrived on the Norwich-bound platform, crossed the tracks by the level crossing and then left from the Ipswich-bound platform.
  2. The station has a cafe.
  3. The footbridge in the pictures is a temporary one to ease construction.
  4. The station buildings are Grade II Listed.

There doesn’t appear to have been much progress on the new footbridge.

I do have some other thoughts.

Greater Anglia’s Stadler Trains Are Step-Free Between Train And Platform

The first two and last pictures in the gallery show this feature.

I arrived on a Class 745 train and left on a Class 755 and both train classes have gap fillers, that do their job automatically.

We need more of this technology to protect the elderly, those with restricted movement and the just untrained stupid.

Housing By The Station

It appears that two blocks of flats have been built on railway land or the station car park.

The bridge also appears to give the owners and residents access across the railway.

Is this thoughtful holistic design or just a bribe to get planning permission?

Who Will Use The Footbridge?

Two main lines effectively cross at Stowmarket.

  • The Great Eastern Main Line between Ipswich and Norwich goes through Needham Market, Stowmarket and Diss.
  • The Ipswich and Ely Line between Ipswich and Cambridge goes through Needham Market, Stowmarket, Elmswell, Thurston, Bury St. Edmunds, Kennett, Newmarket and Dullingham.

So, if you need to go between say Newmarket and Diss, you would change trains at Stowmarket. Hopefully, the bridge will encourage train travel.

New Housing In East Anglia

On the main railway lines between Cambridge, Ipswich and Norwich, there used to be a lot more stations.

  • There are eight closed stations between Stowmarket and Cambridge.
  • There are three closed stations between Stowmarket and Ely .
  • There are two closed stations between Stowmarket and Ipswich.
  • There are eight closed stations between Stowmarket and Norwich.

Note.

  1. A new Soham station was built between Stowmarket and Ely. Passenger numbers are rising with each year.
  2. I have double-counted Higham and Saxham and Risby stations on both the Ely and Cambridge routes.
  3. But that still leaves nineteen stations, that might be good sites to build new houses.
  4. The East-West Railway intend to build a new A14 Parkway station to link the A14 road to the Ipswich and Ely Line.
  5. When housing is taken into account, some stations will give a better return on investment.

Could the new footbridge at Stowmarket be part of a wide ranging plan to build more housing in towns and villages along the railways of East Anglia?

Was The Old Footbridge Too Low?

This picture was taken of the old bridge.

Was the bridge too low for some container trains?

 

March 14, 2025 Posted by | Design, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Details At Hayes And Harlington Station

Yesterday, on my way to Reading, I changed trains at Hayes and Harlington station and took a few pictures.

An Ideally-Placed Waiting Room

These pictures show a waiting room on the Westbound platform of the Elizabeth Line.

The Elizabeth Line has these Western destinations.

  • Heathrow Terminal 4
  • Heathrow Terminal 5
  • Maidenhead
  • Paddington
  • Reading.

Note.

  1. If you are travelling to any of the Heathrow destinations and you are riding on a Maidenhead or Reading train, then Hayes and Harlington station is the last station you can change for the Airport.
  2. If you are travelling to any of the destinations on the Reading branch and you are riding on a Heathrow train, then Hayes and Harlington station is the last station you can change for the Airport.
  3. If you are travelling from any of the Heathrow destinations to any of the destinations on the Reading branch, then Hayes and Harlington station is the first station you can change for the Reading branch.
  4. If you are travelling from any of the Reading branch destinations to any of the Heathrow destinations, then Hayes and Harlington station is the first station you can change for the Heathrow destinations.
  5. To aid the change of platform in the third and fourth changes, there is a step-free footbridge at Hayes and Harlington station.

The waiting room at Hayes and Harlington station, which is complete with heating could be a welcome refuge whilst changing trains at Hayes and Harlington station.

The golden rule seems to be, that if you’re on the wrong train on the Elizabeth Line, then change for your desired destination at Hayes and Harlington station.

Track Warnings

These pictures show the bilingual track warnings at Hayes and Harlington station.

I hope Network Rail are analysing, if the warnings work.

The Main Step-Free Route Across The Tracks

These pictures show the main step-free route at Hayes and Harlington station.

Note.

  1. The route with lifts, is rather tucked in at the Western end of the station.
  2. There are toilets under the bridge on the Eastbound platform.
  3. The steps are rather steep, so if you have any issues, I would use the lifts.

The golden rule is if you are going between the Reading and Heathrow branches with a change of direction from Eastbound to Westbound at Hayes and Harlington station, then make sure, you start your journey in the back of the train.

The Secondary Route Across The Tracks

These pictures show the secondary route at Hayes and Harlington station.

Note.

  1. I believe this bridge is better placed for some travellers, who need to reverse direction at Hayes and Harlington station.
  2. It is also convenient for the waiting room.

In Heathrow Rail Link Withdrawn, But MP Vows To Carry On, I asked this question.

Could Hayes And Harlington Station Become A Transport Hub For Heathrow?

I said this.

This Google Map shows Hayes and Harlington station.

Note.

  1. It has platforms on all four tracks of the Great Western Main Line.
  2. There is a London-facing bay platform to terminate Elizabeth Line trains, if needed.
  3. The land to the North of the station has been developed.
  4. There is land to the South of the station that could be developed.

Could the space above the tracks, with some of the land to the South of the station be developed into a transport hub for Heathrow?

I took these pictures to answer my question.

I don’t think there would be enough space to put a combined bus and coach station at Hayes and Harlington station.

March 5, 2025 Posted by | Design, Transport/Travel | , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Show Me The Way To Motspur Park

A few days ago, I saw on a web site, that Motspur Park station had been made step-free.

I tried to go yesterday, but I made a big mistake – I started from Moorgate station and intended to use the Waterloo and City Line to get to Waterloo station, from where I could get a direct train.

But after taking forever to walk between the Northern and Waterloo and City Line at Bank station, I arrived at Waterloo station, too late to get to Motspur Park station before dark.

Today, I looked up Transport for London’s Journey Planner and it told me to do the following.

  • Walk to Newington Green Road, which is rather a long walk for my 77-year-old legs.
  • Get a 341 bus to Manor House Station.
  • Get a Piccadilly Line train to Finsbury Park station.
  • Get a Victoria Line train to Vauxall station. This is a cross-platform interchange.
  • Walk to Vauxall National Rail station.
  • Get a South Western Railway train to Motspur Park station.

Note.

  1. Normally, I would use a variation of this route and take a 141 bus from the corner of my road to Manor House station.
  2. But due to road works, the 141 is not stopping near my house, so I have no easy way to get to Manor House station.
  3. But in some ways to start a journey to the South-West, by going North to Manor House station is a bit silly.
  4. This detour is caused because neither the Victoria or Piccadilly Lines have an exchange station with the Lizzie Line.

If the 141 bus were running, I’d take that to Moorgate, then take Lizzie to Bond Street and the Jubilee Line to Waterloo for a train to Motspur Park.

I would have taken this route yesterday from Moorgate, but I was advised otherwise by a station guy at Moorgate.

In the end today, I took a bus to King’s Cross and got the Victoria Line from there.

I took these pictures of the elderly Class 455 train en route.

Although at forty, it was still in good condition.

I took these pictures of the new bridge at Motspur Park station.

Note.

  1. The two-button lift controls. Would they be faster if single-button?
  2. I am surprised that solar roofs weren’t fitted as at Denmark Hill station.
  3. The station must be the only station in London with an island platform and three lifts. See Picture 6.
  4. PPicture 6 also clearly shows a ticket machine on the platform, which serves both entrances.

It certainly looks to be a comprehensive job well done.

February 6, 2025 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , | 2 Comments

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