Aldersbrook carriage sidings

[nesw]

I've seen mention of NR doing work to the Aldersbook up carriage holding sidings near Ilford, including re-railing.

Does anyone know if there's plans to bring these back into regular use? I know that some 317s were stored there a few years back but they haven't been used for regular work since the late 90s.

Thanks.

 

[swt_passenger]

It's probably Crossrail related:

5.3 Crossrail will rebuild the disused Aldersbrook sidings west of Ilford station on the western side of A406 North Circular Road. They will be used during the construction phase as a tunnelling logistics site and as a servicing depot during operation.

5.25 The Aldersbrook sidings will be used during construction as a tunnelling logistics site serving the tunnel fit-out trains for the Central route section construction works. The works on the site will begin with the demolition of the derelict college buildings, after which the site will be cleared and prepared for the earthworks. The access from Lugg Approach may need to be strengthened for construction traffic where it crosses the Alders Brook.
5.26 The existing sidings will be largely left in their current positions. New loading sidings to the south of the existing sidings, on the site of the disused college buildings, will be provided. The new sidings will be used for loading materials on to, and removing waste from, the trains. When complete, the site will consist of six sidings, a widened embankment and a hard standing area.

http://74f85f59f39b887b696f-ab65625...ument/0/original/0006_r_ne4ilfordstation1.pdf

 

[trainplan1]

They're coming back into use for Class 315's an interim period at least.
Re-modelling work at Ilford, Gidea Park Carriage Sidings and Shenfield will require trains that are normally stabled at those locations to be re-located.
The works are to bring them back up to spec and fit driver walkways etc.
Hopefully less vandalism will ensue this time when trains are to be stabled there!

Beyond that they're being used often enough as track access points for engineering yellow plant and as swt posted below will be used for tunnel works in time.

 

[nesw]

Thanks for the replies.

I know the last time they were used between the peaks the location caused difficulties - I think units used to run to Ilford after AM peak then go to the sidings late morning. Certainly nothing was usually at Aldersbrook in the evenings or weekends.

 

[306024]

Aldersbrook sidings can only be accessed by running up the main line through Ilford station and then reversing beside the flyover. There is no signalled route from Manor Park. In the days of 306s on the Shenfield service they were indeed cleaned at Ilford Depot after the morning peak then tripped across all four tracks of the GEML to get to Aldersbrook CS.

In those days (pre 1980) there were 24 x 9 car class 306 diagrams, but off peak just a 20 minute all stations service to Gidea Park. Today there are 20 x 8 car class 315 diagrams but a 10 minute off peak all stations service to Shenfield, so there are simply fewer trains to stable between the peaks. Aldersbrook CS was therefore no longer required.

 

[JW16]

The Aldersbrook sidings are now back in use. A number of 315s were stabled there this evening.

 

[306024]

The Aldersbrook sidings are now back in use. A number of 315s were stabled there this evening.

Units normally stabled at Shenfield plus a couple from Gidea Park have been moved up to Aldersbrook CS due to all the engineering work taking place between Romford and Shenfield this Christmas which requires those sidings to be kept clear.

Crossrail work beginning to kick off in earnest now for a couple of years.

 

[dk1]

Chap in a little hut at the entrance too. Not sure if he's a shunter, security or both.

 

[306024]

That's the kennel where the Alsatian lives. No shunters are required to operate in or out of Aldersbrook CS.