Cambridge South new station construction progress.

[mr_moo]

There are no buildings in the way at Shepreth Branch Junction, though a signalling mast has to be moved, and possibly some alteration to the footbridge.

Yep, the 'buildings' that are in the way are an FTN (Fixed Telecoms Network) mast and associated equipment room, plus a couple of other equipment room/cabinets. All just railway stuff basically, and all stuff that is being moved.

Is there no longer going to be a construction site compound on the up side of the line near to the Abcam building? And does that mean that the cycleway does not need to be diverted after all?

No change there - that's still on the plans as well. Can't say much more about that at present though.

 

[adamedwards]

I could see NR staff working in/on the FTN today as the train passed the site. Lots of fencing in the fields to the west of the line.

 

[neill]

A few photos taken from the busway bridge from this morning. Looks like there is another possession this weekend.

To the south of the bridge work is ongoing on the OHLE again. Since last week a couple of flat areas have been created to the west of the track, and the old masts have been removed after being taken out of use last week.

To the north it looks like work is underway on the next set of masts - the concrete piles are now in place and the components look ready to be assembled soon.

 

[WesternBiker]

A few photos taken from the busway bridge from this morning. Looks like there is another possession this weekend.

To the south of the bridge work is ongoing on the OHLE again. Since last week a couple of flat areas have been created to the west of the track, and the old masts have been removed after being taken out of use last week.

To the north it looks like work is underway on the next set of masts - the concrete piles are now in place and the components look ready to be assembled soon.

It's great to see what appears to be rapid progress at this stage. Let's hope they can maintain the momentum.

 

[neill]

Bonus Monday morning update as I happened to be walking over the busway bridge again.

Not much change since Saturday, but the masts to the north have had their verticals erected and are presumably going to be brought into service very soon. To the south the flat area has been revealed as a plant parking area (at least for now) and there are some more wooden stakes marking out something…

 

[59CosG95]

Bonus Monday morning update as I happened to be walking over the busway bridge again.

Not much change since Saturday, but the masts to the north have had their verticals erected and are presumably going to be brought into service very soon. To the south the flat area has been revealed as a plant parking area (at least for now) and there are some more wooden stakes marking out something…

Series 1 OLE haters...I'm afraid that looks like one of the beefy anchor portals from the GWML - bring them on I say!

 

[neill]

Bonus bank holiday update from Shepreth Junction, where there was some work in progress today.

There is a new concrete pad just to the east and south of the junction. There is also an area of disturbed ballast just to the north of the junction - possibly a cable crossing?

I have also included as-is photos of the junction, bridge, existing farm crossings and comms site for reference as they are all due to change as work continues.

Lots going on at the station proper as well, but that’s another update….

 

[59CosG95]

Pardon my ignorance, but the line isn't being 4-tracked from Shepreth Branch Jn to the new Cambridge South Station, is it?

 

[neill]

Pardon my ignorance, but the line isn't being 4-tracked from Shepreth Branch Jn to the new Cambridge South Station, is it?

No, not sure of the technical term but the junction is being widened out so that it is 4, then 3 tracks for a while before going back to 2. There are details on the plans linked above.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 May 2023 ==

As for the activity at the station, the portals to the north of the busway are now in place showing how the four track section will reduce down to two before the Long Road bridge.

The real excitement comes at the station itself, where if I am not mistaken it looks like the western face of the island platforms is being put in place.

I am guessing the plan is to build the west side of the station first, move the existing running lines to go through, and then do the east side.

 

[Magdalia]

Pardon my ignorance, but the line isn't being 4-tracked from Shepreth Branch Jn to the new Cambridge South Station, is it?

No. There will still be a short section of 2 tracks between Shepreth Branch Junction and the new station.

The work at Shepreth Branch Junction is remodelling the existing layout to permit 50mph running on and off the Royston line. As a result the down lines will converge much further north than at present, near to the Dukes No2 user worked crossing, which will be closed.

 

[Jammy Dodger]

No, not sure of the technical term but the junction is being widened out so that it is 4, then 3 tracks for a while before going back to 2. There are details on the plans linked above.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 May 2023 ==

As for the activity at the station, the portals to the north of the busway are now in place showing how the four track section will reduce down to two before the Long Road bridge.

The real excitement comes at the station itself, where if I am not mistaken it looks like the western face of the island platforms is being put in place.

I am guessing the plan is to build the west side of the station first, move the existing running lines to go through, and then do the east side.

Here's a video showing the overall construction of the station (would suggest slowing it down!):

The Bionic Group | Cambridge South | 4D Phasing | #construction | #animation | #bim​

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 May 2023 ==

Based on the timeline in that video, they are roughly on schedule. Could do with someone with better knowledge to confirm though...

 

[AlbertBeale]

No. There will still be a short section of 2 tracks between Shepreth Branch Junction and the new station.

The work at Shepreth Branch Junction is remodelling the existing layout to permit 50mph running on and off the Royston line. As a result the down lines will converge much further north than at present, near to the Dukes No2 user worked crossing, which will be closed.

If the two routes converge onto one pair of tracks, but then split to 4 tracks at the new station, is that so that from that station into Cambridge itself the lines will be paired by direction, rather than being paired according to where they're from/to if they just ran the Shepreth branch tracks alongside the existing ones through to the new station?

 

[Magdalia]

If the two routes converge onto one pair of tracks, but then split to 4 tracks at the new station, is that so that from that station into Cambridge itself the lines will be paired by direction, rather than being paired according to where they're from/to if they just ran the Shepreth branch tracks alongside the existing ones through to the new station?

The line will also be 2 tracks from the north end of the new station for a short distance going towards Cambridge. This is so that no alterations are required at Long Road bridge (for those with very long memories where Trumpington Signal Box was).

The down line already splits into 2 just north of Long Road Bridge. In the up direction there will be a new loop roughly speaking from Hills Road Bridge to the end of Purbeck Road. This partly reinstates the up loop line that I think was taken out when Trumpington signal Box was closed in the 1970s.

So, Shepreth Branch Junction to Cambridge will continue to be a 2 track railway and, at the new station, the outside platforms will be just loops off of that 2 track railway.

 

[William3000]

The line will also be 2 tracks from the north end of the new station for a short distance going towards Cambridge. This is so that no alterations are required at Long Road bridge (for those with very long memories where Trumpington Signal Box was).

The down line already splits into 2 just north of Long Road Bridge. In the up direction there will be a new loop roughly speaking from Hills Road Bridge to the end of Purbeck Road. This partly reinstates the up loop line that I think was taken out when Trumpington signal Box was closed in the 1970s.

So, Shepreth Branch Junction to Cambridge will continue to be a 2 track railway and, at the new station, the outside platforms will be just loops off of that 2 track railway.

It is a two track railway albeit for much of the route between Shepreth Junction and Cambridge station there will be more than two tracks. Red - two tracks; yellow - three tracks; blue - four tracks.

 

[jfowkes]

It seems weird to go from 3 tracks from Shepreth Branch junction, neck down to 2 tracks briefly, then back to 4 tracks for the station itself.
What's the reasoning there, as opposed to going directly from 3 to 4?

 

[dk1]

It seems weird to go from 3 tracks from Shepreth Branch junction, neck down to 2 tracks briefly, then back to 4 tracks for the station itself.
What's the reasoning there, as opposed to going directly from 3 to 4?

Limited space and the Busway all have implications.

 

[neill]

Limited space and the Busway all have implications.

I was wondering how much having the minimum requirement for new land to achieve the project goals was behind the seemingly strange layout.

Between Shepreth junction and the new station there doesn’t seem to be much reason not to go to four tracks all the way, beyond need to purchase more of the fields. Assuming of course that the Addenbrooke‘s road bridge was build large enough for four tracks.

North of the station the obvious obstacle is the bridge under Long road which I imagine would be costly and disruptive to replace, so not too surprising that there is a 2-track pinch point there.

 

[zwk500]

It seems weird to go from 3 tracks from Shepreth Branch junction, neck down to 2 tracks briefly, then back to 4 tracks for the station itself.
What's the reasoning there, as opposed to going directly from 3 to 4?

It's effectively just 2 tracks in from the junction to Cambridge station, but Cambridge South needs two platforms for each line to manage arrivals in quick succession because of dwell times and reoccupation. Shepreth Branch Jn will just have a longer merge.

 

[Magdalia]

It seems weird to go from 3 tracks from Shepreth Branch junction, neck down to 2 tracks briefly, then back to 4 tracks for the station itself.
What's the reasoning there, as opposed to going directly from 3 to 4?

My recollection is that the options in the first round of consultation, back in 2019, included 4 tracks between Shepreth Branch Junction and Cambridge, though that's not evident in the consultation document that I still have. The second round of consultation reduced the track enhancements to what we are getting now.

My understanding is that the track works were amended to reduce construction costs but still be able to operate the existing timetable with stops at the new station inserted into schedules.

 

[Brubulus]

My recollection is that the options in the first round of consultation, back in 2019, included 4 tracks between Shepreth Branch Junction and Cambridge, though that's not evident in the consultation document that I still have. The second round of consultation reduced the track enhancements to what we are getting now.

My understanding is that the track works were amended to reduce construction costs but still be able to operate the existing timetable with stops at the new station inserted into schedules.

I always thought the medium-long term plan was for Shepreth Branch Junction to Cambridge have 4 tracks so why was it not done with the current track changes as it would have been the perfect opportunity. It seems like a classic example of spending a lot more in the long run compared to spending a bit more more now.

 

[Jammy Dodger]

I always thought the medium-long term plan was for Shepreth Branch Junction to Cambridge have 4 tracks so why was it not done with the current track changes as it would have been the perfect opportunity. It seems like a classic example of spending a lot more in the long run compared to spending a bit more more now.

If I am correct, Shepreth Junction to CBG will be quad-track when EWR arrives

 

[Magdalia]

If I am correct, Shepreth Junction to CBG will be quad-track when EWR arrives

EWR to Cambridge is still an if not a when, though there should be an announcement later this month.

And Shepreth Branch Junction-Cambridge would only need to go 4 tracks with an EWR approved route coming into Cambridge from the south.

 

[zwk500]

I always thought the medium-long term plan was for Shepreth Branch Junction to Cambridge have 4 tracks so why was it not done with the current track changes as it would have been the perfect opportunity. It seems like a classic example of spending a lot more in the long run compared to spending a bit more more now.

At the moment with the service levels and pattern it is more efficient to keep it to 2 tracks - it simplifies installation, maintenance and crossing moves.

When EWR comes in it will likely 9but not definitely) go to 4 tracks as the greater service level will drive infrastructure changes at Cambridge that affect the conflicting movements at the south end of the station.

 

[Magdalia]

At the moment with the service levels and pattern it is more efficient to keep it to 2 tracks - it simplifies installation, maintenance and crossing moves.

Mostly I agree with this, in particular simplifying installation hopefully means that we get the station open more quickly.

The bit I would have done now rather than later is to have 2 separate down tracks between Shepreth Branch Junction and the new station, allowing a train off each route to run into the new station without conflict. That would have required a short distance of new track and two more sets of points, with only one minor engineering obstacle, crossing the Nine Wells stream.

 

[zwk500]

Mostly I agree with this, in particular simplifying installation hopefully means that we get the station open more quickly.

The bit I would have done now rather than later is to have 2 separate down tracks between Shepreth Branch Junction and the new station, allowing a train off each route to run into the new station without conflict. That would have required a short distance of new track and two more sets of points, with only one minor engineering obstacle, crossing the Nine Wells stream.

I can see the logic but it is additional cost which would be less noticeable in the EWR project because that's larger. There are also operational tradeoffs as a crossover would likely be a slower speed than a single turnout.

 

[William3000]

Does anybody know what the line speed will be through the new station?

It’s currently 90mph on both lines - will these speeds remain?

Will the up line through platform 1 still be 90mph; I’m guessing the existing down line will become the second up line (platform 2) so may reduce speed limit?

And the new lines to the west which will be the down lines (platforms 3 and 4) be slower say 70mph or 50mph?

 

[Magdalia]

Does anybody know what the line speed will be through the new station?

It’s currently 90mph on both lines - will these speeds remain?

Will the up line through platform 1 still be 90mph; I’m guessing the existing down line will become the second up line (platform 2) so may reduce speed limit?

And the new lines to the west which will be the down lines (platforms 3 and 4) be slower say 70mph or 50mph?

I don't think I've ever been through the site of the new station at 90 mph! The 90 mph speed limit has only ever been of any use for up trains heading towards Shelford but not stopping there.

And when it is all done the tracks will have moved. The alignment of the existing up line will be under platform 1. The positions of the new OHL supports give a hint of what is to come.

 

[kevin_roche]

Could someone clarify what the extra line will be used for on each of the 3 track sections, please? Is it up or down or bi-directional?

 

[zwk500]

Could someone clarify what the extra line will be used for on each of the 3 track sections, please? Is it up or down or bi-directional?

There aren't any 'extra lines' so to speak. There will be a much longer merge for Shepreth Branch Jn that will have the appearance of 3-track but isn't, and there is an existing Down Loop just outside Cambridge that AIUI isn't being touched.

 

[William3000]

I don't think I've ever been through the site of the new station at 90 mph! The 90 mph speed limit has only ever been of any use for up trains heading towards Shelford but not stopping there.

And when it is all done the tracks will have moved. The alignment of the existing up line will be under platform 1. The positions of the new OHL supports give a hint of what is to come.

I frequently travel from Whittlesford Parkway to Norwich and the train’s southbound I’m on always travel through at 90mph - it actually feels fast because I’m usually on the Foxton to Cambridge run so never go through at that speed.