Environmental Statement volume 4 - Chiltern Evergreen3

Currently the rail corridor is used for passenger services as far as Bicester Townstation, and freight trains to Banbury Road stone sidings (Water Eaton), BicesterMoD depot, and the Calvert waste terminal (near Claydon Junction). In this reportthe existing route that is to be upgraded, including the section east of Bicester, isreferred to as the “Oxford-Bicester corridor”.1.3.10 There are a number of operational characteristics of the existing arrangementsalong the Oxford to Bicester corridor which are less than optimal and, which theEvergreen 3 scheme will seek to address. These include:• the corridor is approximately 20km long and comprises only a single line;• the signalling system permits only one train at a time between Oxford NorthJunction and Bicester Town, thus severely restricting train frequency and linecapacity;• the corridor is currently subject to a maximum 50 mph speed restriction,reduced to 20 mph at certain locations;• the corridor has a large number of public and private level crossings along theroute; and• some of the structures along the corridor, including the Mill Stream andCherwell viaducts, are life-expired.1.3.11 Existing services comprise seven passenger trains each way per day, which areexpected to increase to 10 passenger trains each way when the May 2009 timetableis issued. The number of freight trains and their length can vary according tomarket demand, and the requirements of the waste facility at Calvert, the Ministryof Defence, and the construction industry. In May 2009 the number of freight trainsis expected to be between one and four per day in each direction depending on thesection of the track that is being considered.1.3.12 Of particular importance to the Evergreen 3 proposals is that there is someavailable physical capacity within the corridor in that it was originally built as atwo track railway, and sufficient width is available within the rail corridor toreinstate a second track.Project Programme1.3.13 CRCL will be submitting a TWA Order application in autumn 2009, and it is likelythat a public inquiry would be held in 2010. If the application is successful, it isexpected that the Secretary of State for Transport would grant an Order in late2010/early 2011.1.3.14 The TWA process requires CRCL to conduct both an EIA, and undertakeappropriate consultation with stakeholders and relevant parties. Details ofconsultation events and materials will be published on the project website atwww.chiltern-evergreen3.co.uk.ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT9CHILTERN RAILWAYS LTD