New Brent Cross West (Thameslink) station

[louis97]

I went to have a look on Sunday and it still looks at least a couple of months away from opening...

Last time I heard opening is currently planned for sometime in the Autumn, can't quite remember the exact date quoted, think it was a Monday in October.

 

[PGAT]

Last time I heard opening is currently planned for sometime in the Autumn, can't quite remember the exact date quoted, think it was a Monday in October.

16th I think

 

[Mikey C]

It would be nice if the public overbridge could open before the station itself, as that in itself is one of the major benefits of the scheme, the railway is a long barrier between the two sides of it.

 

[eh_oh]

16th I think

Where've you heard this?

 

[subk2010]

Is it confirmed that this station will definitely not be opened in the first half of 2023? I haven't heard any news for a long time.

 

[Skimble19]

Is it confirmed that this station will definitely not be opened in the first half of 2023? I haven't heard any news for a long time.

Yes, it’ll definitely not be opening until the second half of this year. The planned date that was posted above hasn’t changed at the moment.

 

[Sunil_P]

Took these pics three weeks back on March 27th, first three shots northbound, others southbound, on a Corby train (ie. fast tracks). Apologies for the "Super-Blurro-Vision"!

 

[Basil Jet]

Drove past it tonight... the BRENT CROSS WEST letters are above the door. I'm staggered by the scale of the station... it looks like it might be the biggest above-ground station in London apart from the termini and Clapham Junction. I have no idea why it is this big.

 

[class717]

The difference between the western side of the station compared with the eastern in terms of construction progress is staggering.

 

[Edvid]

I'm staggered by the scale of the station... it looks like it might be the biggest above-ground station in London apart from the termini and Clapham Junction. I have no idea why it is this big.

The station is situated in what is a relatively wide-expanse of railway land (which previously included a depot), hence the long footbridge. In addition, the footbridge is designed not just for railway patronage, but to accommodate general pedestrian connectivity in a portion of NW London that was bisected when the extension to St Pancras was built 150+ years ago.

 

[swt_passenger]

The difference between the western side of the station compared with the eastern in terms of construction progress is staggering.

Is that because the east side got a head start when it was initially away from the live tracks? The western island couldn't be started until three tracks were slewed to their new positions.

 

[Mikey C]

The station is situated in what is a relatively wide-expanse of railway land (which previously included a depot), hence the long footbridge. In addition, the footbridge is designed not just for railway patronage, but to accommodate general pedestrian connectivity in a portion of NW London that was bisected when the extension to St Pancras was built 150+ years ago.

Initially that footbridge will be as useful as the station! The railway is a long barrier in that area

 

[jon0844]

to accommodate general pedestrian connectivity in a portion of NW London that was bisected when the extension to St Pancras was built 150+ years ago.

Everything comes to those who wait.

 

[Edvid]

The entrance signage has been added, which means another press release and some photos:

Signage Reveal Signals Brent Cross West Is On Its Way

This week, new external signs were installed on Brent Cross West station, a visible signal that London’s newest mainline station will soon be operating.

transformingbx.co.uk

SIGNAGE REVEAL: BRENT CROSS WEST IS ON ITS WAY​

May 24, 2023
This week, new external signs were installed on Brent Cross West station, a visible signal that London’s newest mainline station will soon be operating.
The bold lettering above Brent Cross West’s eastern and western entrances marks an important step in the journey towards the project’s completion, with the Thameslink station set to open to the public in the autumn.

Part of the Midland Main Line and sitting between Cricklewood and Hendon, trains will connect passengers from central London to Brent Cross in as little as 12 minutes, with up to eight Thameslink services an hour at peak times.
Led by Barnet Council, built by VolkerFitzpatrick, and project managed by Mace with Network Rail a key programme partner, works have been continuing behind the scenes across the 7,000 square metre site.
The station is essential to the regeneration of the area. As part of the ambitious Brent Cross Cricklewood Regeneration Programme, it will be the gateway to north London’s new park town, Brent Cross Town, which alone will deliver 6,700 new homes and create 25,000 jobs.
Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council, said: “The new Brent Cross West station is fundamental to our plans to transform the local area, creating thousands of new jobs and much-needed new housing. It’s great to see the new signage signalling the progress of this ambitious project.”
A central ambition of the wider programme has been to offer new opportunities to local people from a range of backgrounds and through a range of routes. To date, as part of the Brent Cross West works, 102 Barnet residents have been employed on the project, and 20% of the workforce from Barnet and neighbouring Brent and Camden boroughs.
This has included five young people through the Kickstart Scheme, involvement through apprenticeships – read Himnish’s story – and encouraging more women to get involved in construction, including through work placements – hear from Natalia and Leila. We’ve also involved local businesses, including Emma, who owned and ran a food van on Brent Terrace Industrial Estate for 17 years and who now runs the staff canteen at the station.
The station is also an integral part of Barnet’s commitment to tackling the climate emergency. This includes provisions for bike storage and good bus and cycle links to the surrounding area. A new transport interchange is also under construction with three bus routes proposed to stop directly outside the station.
Councillor Alan Schneiderman, Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change, and Cricklewood Ward Member, said: “We are on a journey with local people, communities and businesses to become a net zero borough. The new station at Brent Cross West is important in helping to achieve this by improving public transport options and offering an environmentally friendly way to connect across the borough and the capital.”

Mike Evans, Operations Director for VolkerFitzpatrick, also commented: “This is an exciting moment for us to step back and reflect on this substantial and structurally complex build. I want to thank everyone who has been involved with the building of this station – they’ve worked incredibly hard to bring it to this point. It’s a real achievement and has taken great planning, close collaboration, and robust processes to safely coordinate around the existing railway infrastructure.”
An official opening date for Brent Cross West station will be announced this Summer.

Some of the attached photos are not included in the presser.

 

[Freightmaster]

...which means another press release and some photos:

I wonder if the 'dodgy, overpriced PPE' companies from the Covid pandemic
have moved on to supplying dodgy, overpriced hi viz outfits for these junkets!





MARK

 

[JaJaWa]

Shame they didn't have signs installed to the latest NR/GBR standards (rather than the TOCs making up the designs as they go...)

 

[dereksingh291]

Any idea when the new Brent Cross West Station will open?

 

[PGAT]

16 October

 

[eh_oh]

16 October

Where have you seen this?

 

[class717]

Shame they didn't have signs installed to the latest NR/GBR standards (rather than the TOCs making up the designs as they go...)

The ones in the middle of the platform are slightly closer, they have double arrows both before and after the station’s name, and the others are all standard TL

 

[JaJaWa]

The ones in the middle of the platform are slightly closer, they have double arrows both before and after the station’s name, and the others are all standard TL

Except basically 0 other stations are "standard TL" as even the new part of Luton Airport Parkway is in "faux First Capital Connect design" (different font and symbols). And stations that transferred from SE to TL use yet another design (black background, different font and symbols).

 

[Sunil_P]

The station is situated in what is a relatively wide-expanse of railway land (which previously included a depot), hence the long footbridge. In addition, the footbridge is designed not just for railway patronage, but to accommodate general pedestrian connectivity in a portion of NW London that was bisected when the extension to St Pancras was built 150+ years ago.

Interesting fact: Back in the 1970s, the M1 was supposed to have terminated on the unbuilt North Cross Route near Kilburn, so it would have been extended next to the MML from Staples Corner, and under the location of the footbridge.

 

[Bald Rick]

Interesting fact: Back in the 1970s, the M1 was supposed to have terminated on the unbuilt North Cross Route near Kilburn, so it would have been extended next to the MML from Staples Corner, and under the location of the footbridge.

It would have terminated in a bug junction roughly where the retail / leisure park is near West Hampstead. There’s a strip of 80s built houses on the ‘east‘ side of the line ‘south‘ of Cricklewood which is where motorway was going to go.

 

[Edvid]

You can view previous snapshots of the same place on Google Street View, so here's how the construction site looked from Geron Way since 2018:

February 2018 (Cricklewood depot shed in situ)
November 2020 (depot shed demolished, OLE structures replaced)
April 2021 (eastern footbridge pier in place, slow lines island platform under construction)
June 2022 (station superstructure well underway, first pieces of western entrance (concrete base and lift shaft core) in place)

 

[class717]

The wraps are now off all the signage and the bus shelter has been installed on the East side of the station

 

[Edvid]

There are also a bunch of 360° panoramics on the Brent Cross Town site, published monthly. Here's the latest one (from May):

News & Events

Explore what’s happening at Brent Cross Town, from free events, pop ups and openings to homes offices and building updates

www.brentcrosstown.co.uk

The station's exterior cladding/brickwork looks all but complete and the road by the eastern entrance is beginning to take shape.

 

[pdeaves]

There are also a bunch of 360° panoramics on the Brent Cross Town site, published monthly. Here's the latest one (from May):

News & Events

Explore what’s happening at Brent Cross Town, from free events, pop ups and openings to homes offices and building updates

www.brentcrosstown.co.uk

The station's exterior cladding/brickwork looks all but complete and the road by the eastern entrance is beginning to take shape.

Reminds me of Reading, albeit a 'lite' version.

 

[Edvid]

Looks like the required platform tests were successful; I assume the ongoing works are of the fit-out variety. Presser issued by GTR today:

Brent Cross West passes platform tests

London's next new station, Brent Cross West, has passed a range of safety and technical tests, with Thameslink trains successfully arriving and departing on...

www.mynewsdesk.com

Brent Cross West passes platform tests​

Progressing towards its autumn opening, Brent Cross West station has passed a range of safety and technical tests, with Thameslink trains successfully arriving and departing on overnight trial runs over the past two weeks.

The essential testing ranged from safe boarding, alighting and dispatch from the platforms to on-board passenger information displays, with the station name added to arrival announcements and route diagrams.

Brent Cross West is being built by a Barnet Council-led development partnership, in association with Network Rail and Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) to serve the fast-growing area of Northwest London. It will provide a new stop between Cricklewood and Hendon on the Midland Main Line. Thameslink will manage the new station and operate its services of up to eight trains per hour.

The tests were conducted jointly by GTR’s station project team and the ASLEF union’s Health and Safety representatives.

Tom Causebrook, GTR’s Infrastructure Project manager, said: “Our testing focussed on ensuring that the station’s platforms are safe for passengers and staff. Included in the checklist were making sure trains stopped at the right points, the mechanisms for selective door opening worked correctly, our drivers have good visibility along the platforms, and passenger announcements on the trains’ information screens are at the right times. We’re delighted that the results are really positive.”

“I would like to say a big thank you to all the ASLEF reps who have helped with the testing and also to the train planning team who’ve arranged the test trains for us.

“Now we’re looking forward to further elements of the station being completed so that our staff can move in and do their station-specific training, ready for the autumn opening.”

Councillor Barry Rawlings, Leader of Barnet Council, said: "The new Brent Cross West station is fundamental to our plans to transform the local area, creating thousands of new jobs and much-needed new housing. It’s great to see the platforms pass GTR’s safety and operational tests – another vital milestone for this ambitious project.”

Gary Walsh, Network Rail’s East Midlands Route Director, said: “It is great to see that the new Brent Cross West station has passed GTR’s essential testing of the platforms, which will allow passenger trains to stop at the station safely.

“The brand-new station is another example of the significant investment taking place on the Midland Main Line and will unlock new travel opportunities for passengers, with vital connections to destinations such as Brighton, Luton, and London St. Pancras. We’re looking forward to the station opening this autumn.”

ends

Editors’ notes
This week’s testing programme included the following elements:

• trains stop at correct platform position;
• safe dispatch of trains including driver’s view of platform and signals;
• station design meets the strict platform-train interface (PTI) requirements (including stepping distances);
• all train systems are working correctly, including selective door opening and passenger information system.

 

[stuving]

I take it those two platform views show the test train in the two central platforms, 2 & 3. So why is the yellow brick road line in a different place on those two platforms? I would guess that either (1) the permitted speed for a train on the two lines is different, or (2) work on moving the lines back from the platform edge is still going on - perhaps because the posts of the safety barrier were in the way before now.

As to why it might need to be moved back, see this ORR letter granting a dispensation (in identical terms to the one for Reading Green Park). This says that the tactile band should be 760 mm from the edge (as usual), and rather than this being the coloured line/strip as well, there should be a yellow line at 1500 mm. What you can't tell from that, without the application, is whether it applies to all platforms, or if not which do need it and which will get it.

 

[Bald Rick]

Linespeed is 90mph on the Down Slow, and 110mph on the Up Fast. The standard changes at 100mph.