Nuneham Viaduct between Didcot Parkway and Oxford is now expected to stay closed until early June, Network Rail has warned. The bridge over the Thames was closed to all rail traffic on 3 April after engineers had seen increased ‘movement’ in the structure. Passengers on Great Western and CrossCountry services are being diverted to replacement buses between Didcot and Oxford. Forty freight trains which usually cross the bridge each day have also been diverted.
Waterloo problem ++ South Western Railway is urging its passengers not to travel to London Waterloo this morning, because of a major signalling fault. SWR said ‘a significantly reduced service’ would run on a ’very limited number of lines’, and that services on other routes could also be affected. The disruption is set to continue until the end of the day.
Overground plan ++ The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan is reported to have predicted that a new London Overground route in west London could be open by the early 2030s. The link had been proposed by the Mayor in his 2018 Transport Strategy. It would run from Hounslow to Acton Central and the new HS2 station at Old Oak Common. From there it would continue to Acton Wells Junction and then along the Dudding Hill line, which is presently used only for freight, via the existing stations on the Euston-Watford Overground route at Harlesden and the Jubilee Line station at Neasden. Trains would continue from Neasden along the Midland Main Line in both directions to West Hampstead Thameslink and Hendon. It is understood that engineering consultants are being chosen to develop a detailed design.
Clean screens ++ Northern is asking its passengers not to watch ‘adult’ material while using its services. Northern said: ‘If it’s “Not Suitable For Work” it’s not suitable for our trains and stations either. Wait till you get home’. Northern said the undesirable content ranges from inappropriate jokes and bad language to offensive topics and explicit subjects. Northern’s own WiFi service already filters the material that can be downloaded.