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ECML Southern improvements

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petersi

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Lost of work between Alexandra palace and Finsbury park.
Looks like work has started on platform at Alexandra palace.
lots of new rail and cross overs on the fright line
Picture of work at Finsbury park
Looks as though southern end of reinstated platform signal at Finsbury park has new feather for cross over onto Moorgate Line

Has work started on Hitchin flyover? think I saw picture of pears for flyover.
 
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gage75

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yup work has started on the flyover at Hitchin, when I last went through bridge supports were in place and other prepatory works being done :)
 

DaveNewcastle

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What appears to be the main span of the flyover is on site and has been standing on temporary supports at the east side of the mainline for a few weeks now. The run of piers up towards the mainline might even be complete now, though not on the west side where the new line will curve sharply to join its new junction with the down slow.
 

hwl

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91101

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First and foremost to the OP: Its ALEXANDRA Palace, not Alexandria, or Alexander as some people refer to it as. "Alexandra" You can tell thats one of my bug bears :p :p

As for Hitchin flyover, you have to remember that really the civils work of building the "bridge" is probably the easiest bit, theres still a good 2 miles of railway to build, be signaled, wired, connection to the mainlines at both Hitchin and Letchworth and then commissioned!
 

ntg

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I took this panorama at Finsbury Park a few weeks ago (larger version)
Aw3lVaFCQAAmpkb.jpg
 

petersi

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First and foremost to the OP: Its ALEXANDRA Palace, not Alexandria, or Alexander as some people refer to it as. "Alexandra" You can tell thats one of my bug bears :p :p

Sorry I am Dyslexic
Original message updated
 

philjo

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The existing hitchin-Letchworth line is on an embankment where the flyover line will join but the adjoining fields are at a much lower level so the route of the new line will have to be built up a fair way before anything can be done about laying track. I understand this embankment work will take several months. I doubt it will be ready for track laying until well into 2013.

The new embankment to connect the flyover track to the Cambridge line is currently in progress - the level is gradually getting higher. Lots of chalk taken from an adjacent field is being rolled on to it.
You can easily see this on the left side of the train when going towards Cambridge.
 

philjo

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I noticed yesterday that some new electrification masts have been installed over the weekend where the line from the Hitchin flyover will join onto the Cambridge line (just before it crosses the Stotfold Road on the approaches to Letchworth).
Most of the embankment now has ballast on it.
 

ntg

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The works around Alexandra Palace and FPK have been pretty dramatic. Looks like they're well underway doing the 12 car platform extensions on both the recommissioned platform(s) and the currently operational ones. And the old Jubilee yards have been completely leveled in order to make room for an extra line from AP to FP and the new Thameslink depots. Saw lots of OHLE work being done on the up lines last weekend.

I also think I saw that vegetation had been cleared around the portal to the new canal tunnels near Kings Cross. I think I read they had been contracted for fitting out and connection next year despite not seeing real use until 2018.
 

jon0844

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They've certainly been very busy. They cleared away the tracks and OHLE in the yard very quickly and seem to be working very hard.

I don't know how much it is all costing, but you've got to give NR credit where it's due.
 

Bald Rick

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I also think I saw that vegetation had been cleared around the portal to the new canal tunnels near Kings Cross. I think I read they had been contracted for fitting out and connection next year despite not seeing real use until 2018.

Fitting out starts next year, commissioning of the connections at both ends in mid 2015. Likely to see use for ECS immediately thereafter.
 

philjo

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I noticed this morning that some piles of sleepers have appeared on the embankment of the Hitchin flyover line at the Letchworth end over the weekend. Looks like a set of points is being constructed on the embankment alongside the existing line. Buses are replacing trains Hitchin-Letchworth for the next 3 Sundays so presumably they will be removing the existing overhead support that is in the way of the new line and installing the points during those works.

I saw a mention in Rail that NR are doing trackworks for the flyover at Hitchin over Christmas - I take it that this is upgrading/replacing the down fast-slow crossover north of the station and installing the connection from the down slow onto the flyover?
 

philjo

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Does anyone know what the 2 new junctions will be called at the ends of the live serving the Hitchin Flyover?

Lots of activity at the Letchworth end of the flyover last sunday while buses replaced trains. The existing overhead support that was in the way of the line coming in from the embankment has now been removed and the wires now supported from the new gantry. The set of points alongside on the embankment look complete - probably to be fitted to the down Cambridge line during one of the next 2 weekends.
 

Class377/5

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Fitting out starts next year, commissioning of the connections at both ends in mid 2015. Likely to see use for ECS immediately thereafter.

Believe Siemens will use the link to move commissioned 700's to Hornsey for GN acceptance, ATO testing and introduction prior to joined up services.

When do they start on the point work on the GN side of things?
 

Bald Rick

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Believe Siemens will use the link to move commissioned 700's to Hornsey for GN acceptance, ATO testing and introduction prior to joined up services.

When do they start on the point work on the GN side of things?

Not confirmed yet - still a couple of issues about the possession need to be resolved.
 

Aictos

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Not confirmed yet - still a couple of issues about the possession need to be resolved.

In RAIL, it says the new signalling at Hertford North will be commissioned over Christmas 2012.

My question to you is will the following be completed by Christmas 2012 or is it likely to overrun as its rumoured to be at the moment?

Note one S & T supervisor said to me a few weeks ago it all had to be signed off by Christmas 2012...

Is this just the signalling for the Hertford North Integration Facility?

Would this include the starter signals at Hertford being replaced as it seems they're getting replaced.

Will the crossovers being installed actually be ready for use ie the crossovers at Hertford, Molewood Junction and just south of Langley Junction?

Would this work also mean getting motor points in Hertford Up Yard by then as thats what's being proposed.

Would like to know if you can answer the questions as best as you can please :)
 

A-driver

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As far as I know it's still looking to be ready for Xmas on the Hertford batch. We are scheduled to start training in the new signals and route over the next 8 weeks so I am told. Bragbury road junction now seems to be complete I think (havnt been over the branch for a few weeks!) and most of the signals seem to be in place now, last time I was over there half the point work was in south if Hertford. I havnt heard anything saying it won't be ready.
 

Aictos

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Okay, it's just stuff I've heard at work saying its unlikely it be finished on time.

Glad it's going ahead on time though, :)
 

Class377/5

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Not confirmed yet - still a couple of issues about the possession need to be resolved.

Ah I see. Well long enough time for it to be sorted prior to expected opening date. However earlier opening would assist current TL/GN ECS.
 

D365

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Interesting blog that is. I'm trying to find a track diagram as I'm curious as to how [towards] Cambridge fasts will slot in around slow-line up Peterborough services. Would be dumb if the points didn't allow for up fast to slow. A new slow line could have been laid around the upside-outside of the ramp; slow trains will have to be held in Hitchin I assume.
 

LE Greys

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Interesting blog that is. I'm trying to find a track diagram as I'm curious as to how [towards] Cambridge fasts will slot in around slow-line up Peterborough services. Would be dumb if the points didn't allow for up fast to slow. A new slow line could have been laid around the upside-outside of the ramp; slow trains will have to be held in Hitchin I assume.

Can you clarify that a little, please. There's an uf->us just south of Cambridge Junction and another south of the station. There's a df->ds a long way south of the station near Whitehill Road, and another just north of Cambridge Junction.

Of course, there is still the option to cross the line on the on the flat if need be. However, I'd also expect up Beer Trains to run straight onto the fasts instead of galloping through the station on the up slow.
 
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