Islip
31-03-2009: 16,998 +14% (3 months of extra trains only)
31-03-2010: 23,722 +40%
31-03-2011: 27,836 +17%

The additional four trains per day were introduced in January 2009. The effect is self-evident.

Evergreen 3 presents two obvious concerns:

• Bicester Town station has to be rebuilt in a manner consistent with the numbers that can be expected to use it, given the additional trains and destinations;

• Islip is clearly threatened by the reduction by three trains per day from the current level, which are likely to prove inadequate to serve current destinations, never mind the new ones.

Hi folks,

From their latest company briefing, and their timetable consultation, I’ve extracted the following which relates to O-B :

Bicester – Oxford (BIOX) and East West Rail

Focus is now switching to how we deliver BIOX in a way which compliments the prospective East West Rail Western Section scheme. DfT cannot confirm whether or not East West will proceed until July’s HLOS announcement and to achieve a 2014 opening date of the line it is necessary to start work in March on scheme designs and seasonally critical ecological works. Therefore discussions with DfT are continuing on how best to proceed with our works in a way which doesn’t compromise or add cost to the East West Project.

Bicester Town to Oxford

…today’s level of service continues (from Dec 2012) despite OCC’s withdrawal of subsidy for certain trains.

The full address is Rainbow Room, Bicester Methodist Church, Sheep Street (entry is via the rear door to the building, which is on Victoria Road, between Linden Road and Bardwell Terrace), OX26 6JQ and directions can be found by clicking here.

The agenda is as follows:

Chairman’s Report
A summary of news and upcoming issues affecting the Oxford-Islip-Bicester service arising from Evergreen 3 and EWR.

Election of Committee
A chance to volunteer, if you think you’d like to contribute to the running or development of OBRAG.

Update by Chiltern Railways
Richard Harper, Network Development Manager at Chiltern Railways, will present an update and will do his best to answer your questions and concerns.

Discussion
A chance for you to air your views or put forward ideas regarding changes you would like to see.

Summary of Inspector’s recommendations
5. The Inspector recommended that the Order should not be made and the planning direction should not be given. This was because the likely lack of a licence under the Conservation of Species and Habitats Regulations 2010 (“the Habitats Regulations”) in respect of works which would affect the habitat of bats was an impediment to implementation of the scheme. The Inspector considered that it would be contrary to Government guidance to confer the compulsory purchase powers required for the scheme while such an impediment was likely.

Summary of Secretary of State’s views
6. For the reasons explained in this letter, the Secretary of State considers that she is not yet in a position to decide whether to accept the Inspector’s recommendations.

However, if Chiltern were able to overcome the impediment to implementation of the scheme identified by the Inspector, she would be minded to make the Order and give the planning direction. This letter invites Chiltern to inform the Secretary of State of progress since the close of the inquiry in agreeing with Natural England mitigation measures for species protected under the Habitats Regulations.