LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Better wire Acton Bank so that some GWML trains can reach Euston...
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HS2 construction updates
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Assuming you can get across West London Jn and then find a platform at Euston...
The Planner
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Will be blocks between Xmas and New Year from around 2024.
or as in the past running to marlybone and waterloo thou would have to be under diesel
For the bi-mode trains?
prob thinking more for the 387's
could replace with DMU's but no idea what would be avalible as the turbo's are cascaded elsewhere now and wouldnt be able to handle capacity these days
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Actually, with the Elizabeth line in full working order they will probably terminate long-distance trains at Reading/Slough/Ealing Broadway and use the 345s to get to Paddington (EL) and beyond.
Unless the slow lines are out of action at Old Oak.
Unless the slow lines are out of action at Old Oak.
Class 170101
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Good luck with that surely?
Platforms 17 and 18 are out of Use already and doesn't Platform 16 follow this December?
More chance of getting a path to London Waterloo or Marylebone, but I would think an outside bet for the latter given HSTs (as was) only fitted in one Platform at Marylebone, as I recall.
Kind of my point.
Marylebone is a long shot, Chiltern would probably need to thin their service out to let GWR in and the divert would need to be from Didcot. At least diverting to Waterloo is possible from Reading.
The Planner
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16 isn't a permanent loss. It actually goes down to 14 for a while.
Nicholas Lewis
Established Member
Well another excuse for Avanti not to have to run the full service
going full speculation but if no one station could take capacity could do the following
Marylebone - Cotswolds services including Cheltenham (2tph cutting out oxford only serivce as Chiltern already serve that route)
Waterloo via reading - Devon and Cornwall services (3tp2h)
Victoria via west london Line - South Wales and Bristol Services (4tph)
Marylebone - Cotswolds services including Cheltenham (2tph cutting out oxford only serivce as Chiltern already serve that route)
Waterloo via reading - Devon and Cornwall services (3tp2h)
Victoria via west london Line - South Wales and Bristol Services (4tph)
The Planner
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You assume other TOCs would agree to thin out or flex and Victoria would likely add so much time that journey planners just push you a different way.
There really is no issue that railforums can't make complex! Surely long distance will terminate at Reading for SWR services to Waterloo (hopefully with an enhanced service level), and local services to Ealing Broadway for Central and District line.
Another reminder that this thread is for posters to provide HS2 Construction Updates.
If anyone wants to discuss anything else then they are welcome to start a new thread elsewhere
thanks
If anyone wants to discuss anything else then they are welcome to start a new thread elsewhere
thanks
HS2 Ltd have been granted an injunction against anyone trespassing along the entire length of the route - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-61721267
Hopefully this will avoid delays caused by needing to get a specific injunction against protesters each time.
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LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Regular users of the WCML probably know this, but it's not often mentioned that there are major groundworks visible for HS2 Phase 1 adjacent to the WCML in Staffordshire, north and south of Lichfield.
At Handsacre, where HS2 Phase 1 will meet the WCML to the east of the main line about 2 miles north of Lichfield Trent Valley, a large triangular site for the junction is being cleared and advance works are in progress.
And just south of Lichfield, and south of the A38 overbridge, there are larger groundworks in progress on both sides of the line but mainly visible to the east.
This is where HS2 will burrow under the WCML and enter a short tunnel under the ridge towards Handsacre/Crewe.
Things like haul roads and site offices are beginning to take shape for the construction work proper.
At Handsacre, where HS2 Phase 1 will meet the WCML to the east of the main line about 2 miles north of Lichfield Trent Valley, a large triangular site for the junction is being cleared and advance works are in progress.
And just south of Lichfield, and south of the A38 overbridge, there are larger groundworks in progress on both sides of the line but mainly visible to the east.
This is where HS2 will burrow under the WCML and enter a short tunnel under the ridge towards Handsacre/Crewe.
Things like haul roads and site offices are beginning to take shape for the construction work proper.
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
Interesting that the initial spoil storage and segment delivery logistics at West Ruislip are "temporary".
Maybe the TBMs have to get out of the way at the portal first.
Rail delivery of segments (from the Isle of Grain) will be in place by the turn of the year.
Maybe the TBMs have to get out of the way at the portal first.
Rail delivery of segments (from the Isle of Grain) will be in place by the turn of the year.
There’s certainly a lot more activity around the Old Oak Common site this week; more staff, more site accommodation in place, and some of the boundaries of walls and concrete are more easily identifiable.
Yindee8191
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HS2 on Twitter have confirmed that they’ve moved the cutter head of Dorothy (the Long Itchington Wood TBM) back to the North Portal site in preparation for digging the second bore later this year.
Devonman2014
Member
Good evening
Had the pleasure of a 80 minute organised trip onto the Long Itchington site and visitor centre today (organised and arranged by rail riders) and following confirmation from HS2 representatives they confirmed the photos attached can be used in social Media posts and put onto forums etc.
So a run down of the visit …. The tour comprising 17 visitors and 4 HS2 reps began at the bottom entrance just inside security area. The tour due to start at 11 actually began more 11:20 as the DFT were up there before us and they were running late. Joining a bus or for some (including me) in a security 4WD vehicle we were all transported through site and up to the visitor centre.
Passing the slurry tanks and the concrete rings the first thing that hits you is the sheer size of the place, aerial photos and drone pics really do not do the site justice.
Upon arrival 15-20 mins was spent looking into the pit and taking photos of the bits around there.
At present the head and the front shield have as stated above been removed from the TBM at the south portal and bought bk to the north portal by lorry on Wednesday night. Clearly visible and easily photographable this seemed to be the highlight of the tour with a few pics being taken!!
Each of the 2 pieces are still on the wagons it was transferred by.
The remainder of the TBM is being “dragged back” through the tunnel at a rate of 150m per day and it is expected to be totally out by Sunday morning.
By end November the TBM will be fully reassembled at the next entrance with tunnelling due to start early December.
By mid next year the TBM will be completed at Long Itchington after which it will be disassembled, put onto lorries and moved up to a 2nd tunnelling site to start the next two tunnels. Tunnelling at that site is expected to commence end of next year “as long as nothing goes wrong”.
From the visitor centre viewing platform in the distance massive earthworks can be seen which is the forming of the track Rd route and is well underway, most of that area due for completion in 2024.
We then went into the visitor centre where a couple of HS2 reps gave a speech about HS2, the 2nd phase to Crewe, Leeds, Manchester etc after which the floor was passed over to a French TBM engineer called Edward who had been on site there for a year working purely on the TBM.
What proceeded was what I can only call a most informative explanation of the TBM with the use of a working model. A detailed explanation of what each part of the machine did, how materials are transported to and from the TBM including removal of excavated materials was explained in fine detail.
We were prohibited from videoing any one speaking else that would of been something I would of done …. Understandable in the current world we live in but a pity nonetheless.
A thorough Q & A session followed where we learnt a lot more - for example the tolerance over 1.6 miles at the south portal is 75mm and they were 25mm out from where they wanted it to be - think the crowd were astonished (I was) at that tit bit of information.
Following teas, coffees and biscuits and more personal 1 to 1 Q & A’s with the reps we then boarded the bus and cars back to the entrance and completion of the visit.
Overall I travelled from Exeter to go there with an overnight stay in Cheltenham, if you are interested in massive engineering, railways and seeing works well underway if you get the chance to go there - don’t give it up…. You will not be disappointed !!
Photos attached …. Think most are self explanatory - Any questions please ask …
Had the pleasure of a 80 minute organised trip onto the Long Itchington site and visitor centre today (organised and arranged by rail riders) and following confirmation from HS2 representatives they confirmed the photos attached can be used in social Media posts and put onto forums etc.
So a run down of the visit …. The tour comprising 17 visitors and 4 HS2 reps began at the bottom entrance just inside security area. The tour due to start at 11 actually began more 11:20 as the DFT were up there before us and they were running late. Joining a bus or for some (including me) in a security 4WD vehicle we were all transported through site and up to the visitor centre.
Passing the slurry tanks and the concrete rings the first thing that hits you is the sheer size of the place, aerial photos and drone pics really do not do the site justice.
Upon arrival 15-20 mins was spent looking into the pit and taking photos of the bits around there.
At present the head and the front shield have as stated above been removed from the TBM at the south portal and bought bk to the north portal by lorry on Wednesday night. Clearly visible and easily photographable this seemed to be the highlight of the tour with a few pics being taken!!
Each of the 2 pieces are still on the wagons it was transferred by.
The remainder of the TBM is being “dragged back” through the tunnel at a rate of 150m per day and it is expected to be totally out by Sunday morning.
By end November the TBM will be fully reassembled at the next entrance with tunnelling due to start early December.
By mid next year the TBM will be completed at Long Itchington after which it will be disassembled, put onto lorries and moved up to a 2nd tunnelling site to start the next two tunnels. Tunnelling at that site is expected to commence end of next year “as long as nothing goes wrong”.
From the visitor centre viewing platform in the distance massive earthworks can be seen which is the forming of the track Rd route and is well underway, most of that area due for completion in 2024.
We then went into the visitor centre where a couple of HS2 reps gave a speech about HS2, the 2nd phase to Crewe, Leeds, Manchester etc after which the floor was passed over to a French TBM engineer called Edward who had been on site there for a year working purely on the TBM.
What proceeded was what I can only call a most informative explanation of the TBM with the use of a working model. A detailed explanation of what each part of the machine did, how materials are transported to and from the TBM including removal of excavated materials was explained in fine detail.
We were prohibited from videoing any one speaking else that would of been something I would of done …. Understandable in the current world we live in but a pity nonetheless.
A thorough Q & A session followed where we learnt a lot more - for example the tolerance over 1.6 miles at the south portal is 75mm and they were 25mm out from where they wanted it to be - think the crowd were astonished (I was) at that tit bit of information.
Following teas, coffees and biscuits and more personal 1 to 1 Q & A’s with the reps we then boarded the bus and cars back to the entrance and completion of the visit.
Overall I travelled from Exeter to go there with an overnight stay in Cheltenham, if you are interested in massive engineering, railways and seeing works well underway if you get the chance to go there - don’t give it up…. You will not be disappointed !!
Photos attached …. Think most are self explanatory - Any questions please ask …
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GRALISTAIR
Established Member
Wow. Thanks so much for posting. Extremely informative.
Dave_Cardboard
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I don't think the conveyors are completed yet - particularly the one across the Chiltern Line to the Harvil Road "triangle" where the main compound is located and some of the spoil is going to be (ahem) "sustainably placed." Also, since a big chunk of cutting thereabouts is now going to be a cut and cover tunnel, there's opportunity to pile up some of the spoil on top of that when it's finished, so maybe they are stockpiling a bit nearby to save moving multiple times...?
Snow1964
Established Member
DfT has published today (30th September) the HS2 Independent Construction Commissioner report covering April-June 2022, which is 22nd report
https://assets.publishing.service.g...onstruction_Commissioner_-_Report_Q2_2022.pdf
https://assets.publishing.service.g...onstruction_Commissioner_-_Report_Q2_2022.pdf
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LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
No sign of any TBM start-up today.
In other news, after recent moves in financial markets the original HS2 budget must now be unmanageable with a combination of rapid cost inflation and the sharp increase in government borrowing costs to pay for it.
The 6-monthly progress report due in December, which normally posts cost pressures being within the allowed contingency, will make interesting reading.
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Geezertronic
Established Member
The A452 by Birmingham Interchange in the direction from Stonebridge Island towards Chester Road Birmingham has now re-opened and is re-routed via part of the new road which takes the route over one of the new bridges over what will become the HS2 track, over the new M42 bridge, and comes out at the traffic island by Holiday Inn Express NEC (B4438) before re-joining what is/was referred to as Northway Island
LNW-GW Joint
Veteran Member
After a month of slow progress navigating the Chalfont St Giles vent shaft, TBM Florence (at 6.4km) is now moving at 20m/day towards the third (Amersham) shaft.
TBM Cecilia (6.2km) can be expected to follow shortly.
It's about 2.6km to the Amersham site, so might be reached around February next year.
Before then the TBMs should pass the 8km half-way point in the Chiltern bores.
www.hs2.org.uk
Still no sign of the start-up of the Northolt TBMs at West Ruislip.
TBM Cecilia (6.2km) can be expected to follow shortly.
It's about 2.6km to the Amersham site, so might be reached around February next year.
Before then the TBMs should pass the 8km half-way point in the Chiltern bores.
In your area map - HS2
Search our interactive In Your Area Map to find information about current or planned HS2 construction works taking place across the route.
www.hs2.org.uk
Still no sign of the start-up of the Northolt TBMs at West Ruislip.
It's been all over the local news that tunnelling starts today. Unsurprisingly HS2 failed with their commitment to promise to inform local residents before it was due to start.
Yindee8191
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HS2 Ltd on Twitter announcing that the first Northolt TBM has been turned on.
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