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Stevenage platform 5

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Hadders

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I suspect the gateline will be left open most of the time. Maybe they’ll man it for a few minutes before departure - there’s only going to be 2 trains an hour from that platform.

Also anyone catching a train from that platform is likely to encounter a barrier at the other end of their journey.
 
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Failed Unit

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Hadders said:
I suspect the gateline will be left open most of the time. Maybe they’ll man it for a few minutes before departure - there’s only going to be 2 trains an hour from that platform.

Also anyone catching a train from that platform is likely to encounter a barrier at the other end of their journey.
Click to expand...

Really, we have a lot of stations without barriers on the WGC side.
 
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Failed Unit said:
Really, we have a lot of stations without barriers on the WGC side.
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Platform 5 won’t serve the WGC side, only the Hertford loop side. Yes, there are unbarriered stations but the main destinations like Hertford North and Enfield Chase do have barriers. I suspect it will cost far more to man the barriers permanently than staff them continuously.
 
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The layout is clearly a mess but will be addressed if and when the entire station (if not half of Stevenage) is rebuilt with the grand plans from the council. Eventually you'd have a single station, presumably with just one gateline, and lifts within the protected area. Consider this a temporary solution and I'm sure the design has been based around whatever plans are in place for a rebuild.

Extending contactless acceptance to Stevenage would almost certainly see it being added to all the other stations south. Obviously Watton-at-Stone but also Knebworth and Stevenage. This would presumably be up to TfL.

As for revenue protection, there are many stations that have no gates and infrequent blocks, so if you aren't protecting the small stations then you need to have near constant protection of the main places where these people are going to/from. Short faring then becomes an issue, but at least you've got some money that way.
 
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59CosG95

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T3 possession on the Down Slow from Woolmer Green to south of Hitchin, and on the northbound Hertford Loop track at Langley Jn today. Track replacement might have been going on; a Kirow crane (one of Balfour's) was on site.
 
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59CosG95 said:
T3 possession on the Down Slow from Woolmer Green to south of Hitchin, and on the northbound Hertford Loop track at Langley Jn today. Track replacement might have been going on; a Kirow crane (one of Balfour's) was on site.
Click to expand...

And it’s just a coincidence that they’ve had OHL problems in the Knebworth area earlier today too....
 
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View of the works, taken yesterday from the staircase that connects the station footbridge to the leisure park...
CE3C8517-CC71-4F5B-B9FE-00D5FEC16F50.jpeg
 
malc-c

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Well that was interesting. They haven't installed the switch...... They have simply replaced around 300m or so of track on the Hertford Loop starting at the switch where the loop joins the down slow. I was informed by one of the chaps working on site that the switch is going in next weekend as planned. However he did say that if they had been given possession earlier then the point would have been installed.

I've lots of footage to edit, and will be back down there tomorrow for a couple of hours to see the rest of the work (looks like ballast and tampers are backed up in the loop awaiting entry)

@Skimpot flyer - excellent image, you clearly get a feel for how the platform will look
 
Aictos

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Thanks guys for the photos, it's good to see Platform 5 coming along nicely!

Question though, what will the line be called? Up/Down Stevenage? Up/Down Hertford? Also any idea when we can expect the track to be in place and the OHL being installed?
 
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malc-c said:
@Skimpot flyer[/USER] - excellent image, you clearly get a feel for how the platform will look
Click to expand...

Thanks. I was surprised at the progress made and to see ballast and some track is already in place. Was I correct in thinking that passive provision is being made for the new line to operate as a through line, in future?
 
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Skimpot flyer said:
Thanks. I was surprised at the progress made and to see ballast and some track is already in place. Was I correct in thinking that passive provision is being made for the new line to operate as a through line, in future?
Click to expand...
It’s mentioned in the planning environmental statement (ES) that the chosen option allows for extension northward if more platform length is required, ie beyond the provided 6 car. The current platform and stairs position means no alterations are needed to the existing footbridge and ramps, which are local authority owned. The ES doesn’t explicitly mention the possibility of connecting the platform 5 track back into the down slow beyond a future platform. It’s possible it’s been considered but not described.
 
malc-c

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Skimpot flyer said:
. Was I correct in thinking that passive provision is being made for the new line to operate as a through line, in future?
Click to expand...

Not 100% sure I know what you are referring to as the turnback will be a terminus platform, so won't be a through line in that sense. But at the langley end the connection to the main line will remain, with the new switch being installed (fingers crossed) next week transforming the junction into a cross-over.

Your photo stunned me too - my wife had to use the train from stevenage last week and took some pictures and it wasn't as advanced as it looks in your image. My personal feeling is that with the point installed next week, the bulk of the track bed will then be installed once they stop using the section between six hills way and mid-point between six hills and A602 bridges as the roadway for trucks etc, probably working back from Langley junction towards the station. This would then leave the station building to be completed, with easy access from the leisure park. - Just
 
malc-c

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swt_passenger said:
It’s mentioned in the planning environmental statement (ES) that the chosen option allows for extension northward if more platform length is required, ie beyond the provided 6 car. The current platform and stairs position means no alterations are needed to the existing footbridge and ramps, which are local authority owned. The ES doesn’t explicitly mention the possibility of connecting the platform 5 track back into the down slow beyond a future platform. It’s possible it’s been considered but not described.
Click to expand...

I think that any further development may be part of proposed plans to revamp the complete station as part of the new town development plan....can't see it happening any time soon though
 
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malc-c said:
I think that any further development may be part of proposed plans to revamp the complete station as part of the new town development plan....can't see it happening any time soon though
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Yes that does get mentioned in passing, as justification for building everything to do with the new P5 south of the footbridge, ie leaving anything more disruptive to a bigger revamp.

(The planning ref and Stevenage website link is in post #162, if anyone is wondering.)
 
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Skimpot flyer said:
Thanks. I was surprised at the progress made and to see ballast and some track is already in place. Was I correct in thinking that passive provision is being made for the new line to operate as a through line, in future?
Click to expand...

I believe there is passive provision for it to become a through line in the future.
 
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hwl

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malc-c said:
Well that was interesting. They haven't installed the switch...... They have simply replaced around 300m or so of track on the Hertford Loop starting at the switch where the loop joins the down slow. I was informed by one of the chaps working on site that the switch is going in next weekend as planned. However he did say that if they had been given possession earlier then the point would have been installed.

I've lots of footage to edit, and will be back down there tomorrow for a couple of hours to see the rest of the work (looks like ballast and tampers are backed up in the loop awaiting entry)

@Skimpot flyer - excellent image, you clearly get a feel for how the platform will look
Click to expand...

Removing the old ballast, installing the matting between sub-base and installing new ballast and levelling before any new track goes down takes quite a bit of time hence well worth getting that all out of the way on the entire stretch being relaid (& slightly realigned) - the points are and easy separate job for late then.

PS -I noticed in the video there are 4 track panels for the points and the existing Hertford Loop to DS point look like timber sleepers - are they changing the existing set as well as installing new, if so an even better reason to leve the point for another weekend.
 
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malc-c

malc-c

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hwl said:
Removing the old ballast, installing the matting between sub-base and installing new ballast and levelling before any new track goes down takes quite a bit of time hence well worth getting that all out of the way on the entire stretch being relaid (& slightly realigned) - the points are and easy separate job for late then.

PS -I noticed in the video there are 4 track panels for the points and the existing Hertford Loop to DS point look like timber sleepers - are they changing the existing set as well as installing new, if so an even better reason to leve the point for another weekend.
Click to expand...

It could well be part of the plan to replace the existing switch at the same time seeing that all other point work for the junction has been upgraded. I guess we'll just have to wait until next weekend to see exactly what gets installed.
 
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hwl

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malc-c said:
It could well be part of the plan to replace the existing switch at the same time seeing that all other point work for the junction has been upgraded. I guess we'll just have to wait until next weekend to see exactly what gets installed.
Click to expand...
All the panels (at least 5) are visible at ~9 and 21-22minutes in the video but I can't see what all off them are!
 
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