Line reopened weekdays between Dover and Folkestone following sea damage

[najaB]

Network Rail are making an announcement today...

Sounds like it's quite a bit more work than initially reported. Still surprised that they're estimating December though, but I guess it's better to under-promise and then over-deliver.

 

[LAX54]

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2016/apr/Dover-Folkestone-railway-expected-reopen-December/
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http://www.networkrail.co.uk/news/2016/apr/Dover-Folkestone-railway-expected-reopen-December/

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...estone-railway-expected-to-reopen-in-december

 

[AM9]

Interesting that the new structure will have a designed life of 120 years. It is likely that it will have OLE on it well before that then. I wonder whether passive provision will be made for that.

 

[LewFinnis]

I imagine that they are allowing some cushion for adverse weather conditions. All you need is a roaring south-westerly and work will be severely hampered. If we have a decent summer progress could well be quicker.

 

[jayah]

Sunk Cost Fallacy. Previous investment shouldn't be a major influence on subsequent investment - especially for something that you can't flog off for a profit after the subsequent investment. However, (there's always a "but"), the railways will always be a cost centre (like the NHS), so there are non-profit influences on whether the investment should be made.

Railways aren't about just profit, there are immense non-user benefits. Sunk cost is an interesting argument - the money was spent between 2006-9 precisely because the route was recognised as a vital artery on the Kent Main line and a key part of the HS1 domestic high-speed network.
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The work, as described, is probably a three to four month job. So you'd be looking at July/August for reopening. Earlier if they work round the clock.

Judging by one of the Network Rail PR videos, the worksite is tidally constrained.

 

[snowball]

Interesting that the new structure will have a designed life of 120 years.

120 years is the standard design life for new bridges. It would have been interesting if this one had been designed for anything different.

 

[Cletus]

Judging by one of the Network Rail PR videos, the worksite is tidally constrained.

Work on the beach will affected by the tides, but work on the railway line itself is rarely affected by the waves (in the way that water crashes over the line at Dawlish for instance).

 

[AM9]

120 years is the standard design life for new bridges. It would have been interesting if this one had been designed for anything different.

Sorry my post didn't seem to say what I intended. I am aware that the expected life is typica but was really curious as to whether any provision for eventual OLE was to be made. Passive provision would include either mast fixing points set into the structure or maybe just locations clear for piling without obstruction. 25kV is quite probable on that line well within the lifetime of the structure.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Having been away on holiday this month, on my return home amongst a mountain of mail was the delivered copy of the May 2016 issue of the Rail Engineer magazine, which on page 8 has a small article which gives the month of December 2016 as the scheduled reopening date of this line.

 

[Cletus]

Yes, Network Rail announced their plan for the December re-opening on the 4th April.

I have seen on the internet, so unconfirmed "work completed December, line open September".

 

[Cletus]

Update on repairs

http://www.railmagazine.com/news/ne...ine?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Engineers are on course to re-open the storm-damaged line between Dover and Folkestone by their December deadline, according to Network Rail.

The line has been closed since December 24 2015, when the sea wall at Shakespeare Beach was cracked and earth beneath the raised alignment scoured out by intense winter storms (RAIL 795).

Up to 100 engineers are on site to rebuild the railway, and piling is well under way to provide the columns that will support a new viaduct, replacing the damaged section of sea wall.

An NR spokesman told RAIL: “On May 30 we reached another milestone with the completion of piling for slab 1. There are four slabs that will make up the new viaduct deck. The piles in slab 1 have been exposed, cropped and are being prepared for commencement of reinforced concrete slab.

“At the western end of the site, excavation and formwork has been completed for the foundations of a sea spray wall, which will help protect the track from the sea.”

Five barges continue to deliver rock armour directly to the beach from Norway, to protect the sea wall from any further damage.

Lots of pictures here from a local with lots of time on his hands
http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/106504-folkestone-dover-sea-wall-wash-out/page-82

 

[najaB]

I'm sure there's something that could be said about the white cliffs being protected by rock from Norway...

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

 

[Cletus]

Copy of Southeastern tweet today.

Work to repair the sea wall between Dover and Folkestone is ahead of schedule, and the line will now open in autumn

 

[hwl]

Copy of Southeastern tweet today.

All 4 60cm deep concrete rafts on top of lots of deep (circa 25m+) piles have been completed and ballast and sleepers now being delivered to the site. The side walls (smaller cliff side and larger seaside spray protection) for the concrete rafts are well under way.

The slightly separate replacement seawall and rock armour (huge barge off shore) being partially done from the beach thus allowing resumption of rail services probably September ish.

Work was stepped up to 24/7 so it will be interesting to see if they carry on at that pace and how much Seawall they try to do before reopening.

 

[Cletus]

Network Rail have also posted a new animated flythrough of the works.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLpO2TL4txQ

 

[PHILIPE]

Copy of Southeastern tweet today.

Here is a Network Rail announcement:-

www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk ... his-autumn

 

[Llanigraham]

And a Network Rail time-lapse

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSQKhxspVWI

 

[Cletus]

Rumour control says re-opening of the line is likely to take place mid-late September.

 

[375610]

Track is now in place throughout.

Here is a video of it being moved into place.
https://youtu.be/4HTbEMi4exY

 

[Cletus]

Apparently the announcement about re-opening is to be made on Monday.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Will there be any difference in max line speed once it's re-opened? Presumably there'll be a TSR whilst the new track beds in

 

[Cletus]

Re-opening confirmed as Monday 5th September

 

[district]

Will there be any difference in max line speed once it's re-opened? Presumably there'll be a TSR whilst the new track beds in

There will be a 50mph restriction for the first week. From week 2 trains will travel at normal line speed.

For anyone interested the first train over the new line will be the 0428 Dover Priory to Cannon Street.

 

[Groningen]

Dover to Folkestone railway to reopen on Monday, 5 September, three months ahead of schedule.

The railway between Dover and Folkestone will reopen on Monday, 5 September following a nine-month project to repair the line. Passengers from Dover, Deal, Walmer, Sandwich and Martin Mill will soon be able to use a full train service again, as Network Rail completes a £39.8m project. The line between Dover and Folkestone had to be closed on Christmas Eve last year after extensive damage to the sea wall was found at Shakespeare beach. Since then, Network Rail’s orange army has worked to build a new 235 metre long viaduct supported by more than 130 concrete columns. Network Rail chief executive Mark Carne, said: "This project is a huge achievement for all involved and I'm extremely proud of what has been done by those who have been working on the project since December. "Finishing this project three months ahead of schedule is a reflection of the continuous hard work that has been taking place here, setting the standard expected at Network Rail. “We face some big challenges in the coming years but with the skills and the dedication on show here at Dover I know we will face them head on.” Network Rail’s Route Managing Director for South East route John Halsall said: “On Christmas Eve last year, parts of the railway between Dover and Folkestone were completely destroyed. “By Boxing Day, engineers were on site and since then have been working around the clock to get our railway back up and running, completing this repair work in just nine months when a job like this would normally take two years. A huge thanks to the team for their hard work and I also would like to thank passengers on this line for their patience while the railway has been closed.”

Richard Dean, Southeastern’s Train Services Director, said: “We would like to thank our passengers for their patience and understanding while this massive project was undertaken. “When the sea wall was damaged and the railway severed it meant we were unable to run all of our services, including a full high speed service. We made sure we provided alternatives and paid compensation to passengers, but none of that is a full substitute. “It is great news that the railway will open in just a fortnight on Monday 5 September.”
Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover and Deal said: “The work that has taken place in the last nine months is a tremendous piece of British engineering, and a tribute to the dedication of both Network Rail and Costain staff. “The railway between Dover and Folkestone is a key method of transport for residents of Dover and Deal and I’m delighted that it has been returned to them within a year of the line being closed.” Following the 5th September, due to the scale of this project we still have three Sunday’s of follow up work to complete; this will allow us to complete final works resulting in smoother and quieter journeys for passengers. The work will take place on the 11th September, 2nd October and 9th October. If you are planning to travel on these dates, please check before you travel. Throughout the duration of the work at Dover, a new timetable was put in place with a day and night bus service running to ensure passengers could keep moving. Passengers who use the line between Dover and Folkestone were also offered a compensation package along with free car parking permits at Folkestone West whilst the line was closed. While the railway has been closed between Dover and Folkestone, Network Rail has invested an additional £3.5m to make the line more resilient. The work has included brickwork repairs on Shakespeare, Abbotscliffe and Martello tunnels, 2.4km of new track, and drainage work in Abbotscliffe tunnel.

Dover project summary and timeline
The railway between Dover and Folkestone will reopen three months ahead of schedule
Engineers are working to build a new 235 metre-long viaduct, supported by 134 concrete columns
A project of this scale would normally take two years from design to completion but the teams in the South East have done it in nine months
As we are ahead of schedule, projects costs have come down from £44.5m to £39.8m

Source: http://www.networkrailmediacentre.c...ay-5-september-three-months-ahead-of-schedule

 

[supervalkoinen]

Has anyone any idea when the journey planners and advance tkts will be updated? I'm looking at journeys in October.

 

[Cletus]

Has anyone any idea when the journey planners and advance tkts will be updated? I'm looking at journeys in October.

The NRE and Southeastern's websites are now showing updated train times.

 

[Bald Rick]

Line reopened this afternoon. First service train early tomorrow.

 

[supervalkoinen]

The NRE and Southeastern's websites are now showing updated train times.

I've checked various dates in Sept/Oct on different journey planners, including NRE and SE, over the last week or two and haven't yet found any through services St Pancras - Dover.

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Will SouthEastern have to do a bulk update of their journeys on TRUST for journey planners to pick up the restored timetables?

 

[Cletus]

The line is only open weekdays, no weekend services until at least December.