Crossrail at 87%

Crossrail project is 87% complete, with testing of a Class 345 inside the Core Tunnel expected by the end of the year.

CONSTRUCTION of the Crossrail project was 87% complete by September 19, reports Transport for London in its Elizabeth Line Operations and Transition Update.

TfL has also confirmed that testing of a Class 345 Aventra inside the Core Tunnel is expected to take place towards the end of the year. This will be extended to the entire tunnel by March 2018.

At the end of this testing in summer 2018, the railway infrastructure will then be handed over to TfL, which will assume primary responsibility for safety and operations and complete ‘trial running’. The latter represents the final testing of capacity and performance of the infrastructure, and will involve the use of up to 22 trains per hour.

The update said the major physical activities still outstanding are fitting out the stations and installing mechanical and electrical systems such as cabling, ventilation, lifts and escalators, communications, power, signalling, overhead line electrification and platform-edge doors.

TfL said the next phases of the project will be energisation of the railway followed by the start of dynamic testing. It also confirmed that the project remains within the available £14.8 billion budget.

Regarding signalling, TfL explained in the notes that for Stage 3 to happen (the opening of the central section between Paddington and Abbey Wood), the ‘345s’ must be fitted with Communications Based Train Control (CBTC) signalling. This is similar to that fitted to several London Underground lines, but which must be added to the two other systems already fitted to the train (‘conventional’ UK signalling for the surface sections and European Train Control System for the Heathrow spur). TfL describes this as “complex” and a “significant focus from the train manufacturer Bombardier and TfL”.

At Stage 4 (the start of Shenfield/ Abbey Wood-Paddington trains) in May 2019, the number of trains running in the central tunnel will rise from 15 to 24 per hour. To enable this, TfL said Network Rail must complete the power supply upgrade on the Anglia route and remove bottlenecks caused by the 5mph entry and exit to Ilford depot.

In December 2019, trains from the west are connected to the central tunnel (Stage 5) and will run from Reading.

THE rate at which TfL Rail’s Class 345s are being introduced into traffic is slightly behind schedule, according to papers released by Transport for London on September 19.

TfL says the introduction of Bombardier’s Aventra electric multiple units has been slightly delayed by the rate of commissioning of the platform elements of the Driver Only Operation (DOO) CCTV system. It adds that these are being resolved, and that the number of ‘345s’ in traffic is increasing.

The details were confirmed in TfL’s Elizabeth Line Operations and Transition Update. The report said that six trains had been accepted for passenger use, and that lessons learned from the introduction of the fleet and infrastructure in Stage 1 are being captured and incorporated for future stages.

This includes closer monitoring of supplier programmes for software and assurance, clearer accountabilities and sign off for multi-party works such as DOO CCTV, and refocusing of the project reviews with an emphasis on opening stages as opposed to individual contracts.

Meanwhile, Bombardier is fitting European Train Control System (ETCS) equipment to 345002, before it begins tests on the Great Western Main Line between Heathrow and Stockley (that section is fitted with ETCS). From May next year there will be four trains per hour between London Paddington and Heathrow using ‘345s’ as part of Stage 2 of the project. These will replace the 2tph Heathrow Connect services.

Testing of the first ‘345’ in the Heathrow Tunnels is due to start before the end of this month. TfL said that the development and introduction of this “complex, new on-train signalling system remains the most significant risk to timely commencement of Stage 2 services”.

Trains on the western section will use the Old Oak Common depot being built by Taylor Woodrow, and which is due to receive its first ‘345s’ in November. It will initially