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Stevenage platform 5

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Mcq

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I was there from 1:00am to 2:30am this morning, not a lot going on, some snagging work on the OHL, and preliminary prep work for the OHL on the turnback, which I was told would be this weekend... I'll try and get some more video, but this weekend is full of family commitments so its not panning out the way I thought it would
Thanks all - this is really good thread with great folks contributing
 
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malc-c

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OHLE connected during February blockade.

You might be right, and the info I was given last night by one of the guys on the snagging team was wrong as I've since been told that the signalling and track circuits cant be checked if anything is on the rails, so that would suggest that the OHLE won't be happening this weekend :(
 

malc-c

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Here's a small update on what happened (very little) early yesterday morning. The one thing I did notice was that there is still around 500m of track to lay under six-hills road bridge, so unless that was laid in the past 24 hours, it would suggests Fred's comment about the OHLE being undertaken in February may well be correct.


As you can see it was a tad damp and drizzly, but made for some atmospheric shots. One thing to listen for... bird song at 2am in the stillness of the night. Seems the bright lights were playing havoc with their body clocks :)
 

Hadders

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I passed through earlier this morning, the footbridge is going in.

25C59EE5-A4D9-40BD-BA2D-C6F77AAD8D19.jpeg 62B721BF-7FB0-426E-9D0B-D0E8EC1907D2.jpeg
 

swt_passenger

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Those photos suggest the brick building will probably be for the lift machinery, rather than the base of the lift shaft as suggested in post #504?
 

malc-c

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I passed through earlier this morning, the footbridge is going in.

View attachment 73143 View attachment 73144

Been to site this morning - editing the video at the moment, which will be up later this evening. The steel work was delivered and erected overnight and through yesterday, and is connected to the existing structure. The OHL is up as a first fix.

Those photos suggest the brick building will probably be for the lift machinery, rather than the base of the lift shaft as suggested in post #504?

Yes, from the information this will house the hydraulic pumps and associated lift machinery. Mange to meet with some senior staff on site this afternoon and once the last two signalling cabinets have been moved so the last 200m of track can be fitted the bulk of the construction work will have been completed. The remainder will be the fitting out of the platform, and installing / building the platform fixtures and fittings. - It is hoped that the first test trains will run in March...
 
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adamedwards

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I assume if all finished early the test runs rapidly become passenger carrying and end of the bus? Hope all goes smoothly.
 

jon0844

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I assume if all finished early the test runs rapidly become passenger carrying and end of the bus? Hope all goes smoothly.

All handed over by April and new trains in Summer (May) timetable change. Seems like they'll make it given the rapid acceleration of works.
 

swt_passenger

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All handed over by April and new trains in Summer (May) timetable change. Seems like they'll make it given the rapid acceleration of works.
“Touch wood” but as it seems to be progressing quite well, is it likely that the delays (that caused the present loop services to be cut back) were simply a response to some sort of CP5 cash flow problems?
 

D365

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“Touch wood” but as it seems to be progressing quite well, is it likely that the delays (that caused the present loop services to be cut back) were simply a response to some sort of CP5 cash flow problems?

As far as I recall, Platform 5 was delayed by a few years - I thought it had been cancelled at one point.
 

swt_passenger

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As far as I recall, Platform 5 was delayed by a few years - I thought it had been cancelled at one point.
Sure, and if you go through the enhancement delivery plans you can see clear evidence of it being gradually deferred, by 2016 it was already being described as in development for a CP6 start.

It may well be that when they got into detailed development they decided it was better to piggy back the necessary closures on the other Kings Cross upgrades. Which may have been a good decision in hindsight, but I don’t think it has ever really been adequately explained in public documents...
 

Aictos

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How soon before the first rail tour top and tailing into this with a class 86 or 87?!

Be a short train as it’s designed for 6 car trains so a rail tour like you are suggesting only have 4 carriages.
 

malc-c

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Looks good that. The OLE equipment on the turnback appears to be from the SICAT range (last used on the Shields-Gourock & Larkhall projects in Scotland); I suspect another wire run (under 6 Hills Road) will be added later to connect the turnback to the existing network.

The wires run from the station under sixhills road bridge and seem to be terminated on a mast near the A602 bridge. Looking at the angles (had to cover in the video) the wires take above the track at the junction my guess is that this was just a first fit and the final positioning will be done when they make the final connection to make the wires live.
 

swt_passenger

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The wires run from the station under sixhills road bridge and seem to be terminated on a mast near the A602 bridge. Looking at the angles (had to cover in the video) the wires take above the track at the junction my guess is that this was just a first fit and the final positioning will be done when they make the final connection to make the wires live.
By the way, did you ever find out what was meant by modifications to the overbridges? Could it just be parapet heights or something like that?
 

Fred26

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As far as I recall, Platform 5 was delayed by a few years - I thought it had been cancelled at one point.

Sure, and if you go through the enhancement delivery plans you can see clear evidence of it being gradually deferred, by 2016 it was already being described as in development for a CP6 start.

It may well be that when they got into detailed development they decided it was better to piggy back the necessary closures on the other Kings Cross upgrades. Which may have been a good decision in hindsight, but I don’t think it has ever really been adequately explained in public documents...

As far as I'm aware it was supposed to be finished in time for the May 2018 TT.
Buses between Stevenage and Hertford were never the plan.
 

malc-c

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By the way, did you ever find out what was meant by modifications to the overbridges? Could it just be parapet heights or something like that?

No, sorry I haven't. As far as I can tell the track and wires all have clearance under both bridges. There has been a few road diversion signs, one of which was at the round-about with the B197, but no evidence that the road was ever closed. At the moment its two live cabinets near to the bridge that are holding up the installation of the final 200m of track under six-hill bridge, as they can't be removed as they still form part of some signalling / comms traffic with London Kings X (this came from the project manager in the course of chatting to him yesterday).
 

TheHSRailFan

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As far as I'm aware it was supposed to be finished in time for the May 2018 TT.
Buses between Stevenage and Hertford were never the plan.
It was orignally ment to be built before that, but GN and NR orignally said it would of taken 7 years to build the platform. This was before massive outcry in local newspapers, facebook communites, a lot of locals and councils. There was a facebook page originally to protest this when it first blew up(abandoned of course).
 

Ianno87

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As far as I'm aware it was supposed to be finished in time for the May 2018 TT.
Buses between Stevenage and Hertford were never the plan.

It was orignally ment to be built before that, but GN and NR orignally said it would of taken 7 years to build the platform. This was before massive outcry in local newspapers, facebook communites, a lot of locals and councils. There was a facebook page originally to protest this when it first blew up(abandoned of course).

It was moved from CP5 to CP6 as part of the Hendy enhancements deliverability review.
 

adamedwards

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I filmed the approach to Platform 5 from Langley Junction as my train came in today. Its taken using a phone thorugh the train window so not perfect. What looks really odd is the wires are up right through the section with no track! Also note the "train" in platform 5.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/MQttoMgJMFerPofUA

Hope link works ok
 

malc-c

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Thanks for the video, made for interesting viewing.

The OHL is a "first fit" from the information I have the final stretch of track (from the looks of things they have already started) should be complete in time for the next possession at the end of February when there is more OHL, signalling and E&P work planned.

I'm hoping the weather is going to settle down by mid week after this storm that's approaching as I have planned to go down and get some footage for the next update. I will also be covering the work at the end of the month too....
 

malc-c

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Blessed with good weather I popped down to record a further update... this one is going to be rather special

Trackside.png

A few weeks back I received an e-mail from the customer relations manager at Spencer's. It was an invitation to visit the site and walk the new track. Naturally I jumped at the chance and the site visit was set for today.

I've had a really wonderful morning. I met with the project manager, project director and senior planning officer, and finally met up with the customer relations manager who had been so helpful over the past nine months, dealing with my request for information.

I've just returned home, still buzzing with excitement, and now have the fun of editing the video. The update will be delayed for a while though as I need to obtain approval from Spencer's as I was naturally privileged to some sensitive information (which I would love to share but can't as I agreed in writing to non-disclosure), and there are also contractual conditions as more than one company are on site.

But here's a screen shot of a Hull trains (quite fitting as that's where Spencer's are based) class 180 taken from a vantage point I never thought in a million years would happen.

I would like to thank the team for giving up a couple of hours of their valuable time and making this morning such an enjoyable event.
 
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TheHSRailFan

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Blessed with good weather I popped down to record a further update... this one is going to be rather special

View attachment 73819

A few weeks back I received an e-mail from the customer relations manager at Spencer's. It was an invitation to visit the site and walk the new track. Naturally I jumped at the chance and the site visit was set for today.

I've had a really wonderful morning. I met with the project manager, project director and senior planning officer, and finally met up with the customer relations manager who had been so helpful over the past nine months, dealing with my request for information.

I've just returned home, still buzzing with excitement, and now have the fun of editing the video. The update will be delayed for a while though as I need to obtain approval from Spencer's as I was naturally privileged to some sensitive information (which I would love to share but can't as I agreed in writing to non-disclosure), and there are also contractual conditions as more than one company are on site.

But here's a screen shot of a Hull trains (quite fitting as that's where Spencer's are based) class 180 taken from a vantage point I never thought in a million years would happen.

I would like to thank Diane, Lisa and Bob for giving up a couple of hours of their valuable time and making this morning such an enjoyable event.
Nice to see you went down, Excited for your next video that will be coming out from this!
 

malc-c

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From my point of view you deserve a special visit just for the sheer effort you put in documenting this project. :)

Thanks mate... For me this was just something I wanted to document, but its nice to hear you guys appreciate all the effort
 

malc-c

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I'm hoping to have the update approved by middle of next week.... These things take a little time as they have to ensure that none of their employees rights are violated, or the inclusion of a third party logo doesn't lead to legal claims as permissions were not granted - its a PC legal minefield !
 
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