Saturday, 7 January 2017

The first day of the London Marylebone - Oxford City Station service.


Caption above: Class 168 Unit No. 168106 at Oxford City Station prior to departing for London Marylebone 12th December 2016. Oxford now has 2 routes to London, Milton Keynes and Witney next?

The first day of the London Marylebone - Oxford City Station service - by Simon Barber.

On the first day of the new timetable for Chiltern Railways(and also for several other Train Operators), three of our members (David Ferguson, Tony Bush and myself) travelled on some of the first through train services running from London Marylebone to Oxford City. David and I travelled on one service, whilst Tony travelled on another. We all distributed recruitment flyers on the trains to some of the other first passengers, and after we arrived at Oxford City both David and I went on to another train to leaflet more passengers prior to that train departing for London Marylebone.


We travelled on a Class 168 unit, which now operate most of the London Marylebone - Oxford City services. However, when we all returned to London Marylebone we travelled on a push-pull set presumably hauled by a Class 68 locomotive. There are now two bay platforms at Oxford City which are now dedicated to the London Marylebone service and also for the future East -West services for whenever these come on stream, and new awnings are now in the process of construction for these platforms.  We then made our way to an Italian restaurant close to Oxford's main bus station where we had a superb meal which also marked ERTA's Xmas celebration.


Caption Above: The ERTA Celebrating Christmas bash and the new rail link on December 12th 2016 at Gino’s Spaghetti House, adjacent Gloucester Bus Station, Oxford City Centre where the X5 coach to Bedford goes from conveniently!

Join ERTA and be part of the picture! Good progress is being made. Further contacts and details see: Membership Secretary, 20 Fitzherbert House, Kingsmead, Richmond, Surrey, TW10 6HT T. 0208 940 4399 E. simon4barber@gmail.com or website: https://ertarail.com/membership/ All supporters welcome.


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