Chiltern Railways completed a major milestone over the weekend at Aynho Junction when a new high speed set of points was installed to increase the line speed.
The specially designed points are positioned on the part of the junction where the line splits between Bicester and Oxford and form part of the targeted improvements the company are making to make journey times quicker.
In order to complete this part of the project in the allotted weekend line closure, a huge amount of preparation work had already taken place including the building of the 120 metre long set of points alongside the line.
This new equipment replaces the existing 40 metre structure, and the additional length of the points allows the trains to move across the line at higher speeds delivering 100 mph through the junction.
Once the area of track and ballast had been removed and the area had been smoothed and measured using laser measuring instruments, a special piece of plant equipment designed for putting high speed points into place was able to move it ready for installation.
Once in place, further work took place through the night and the next day to test the new infrastructure.
Malcolm Holmes, General Manager Mainline said: “The high speed points are a major milestone for the Chiltern Mainline project and allow for 100mph trains to run through the junction. We’re delighted that this highly complex work successfully took place over the weekend and that we are step closer to reducing journey time and creating the Chiltern Mainline.”
Work also took place over the weekend at Princes Risborough, Neasden and High Wycombe.
A well-written piece of puff, well done NR. What they don’t mention is that in the other direction, a grade-separated junction is being bypassed by a flat one, to speed up CR journeys at the cost of the already unreliable XC service. Even the Edwardian-era GWR recognised the value in installing grade-separated junctions, but 101 years later it seems we’re happy to take a retrograde step! Grrr.
A well-written piece of puff, well done NR. What they don’t mention is that in the other direction, a grade-separated junction is being bypassed by a flat one, to speed up CR journeys at the cost of the already unreliable XC service. Even the Edwardian-era GWR recognised the value in installing grade-separated junctions, but 101 years later it seems we’re happy to take a retrograde step! Grrr.