Engineering work goes to schedule
Network Rail’s annual programme of Christmas engineering work was completed successfully.
In NR’s North East and East Midlands Region, construction of the dive-under at Werrington (Peterborough) continued with Stamford line tracks slewed to allow it to be built, while at
King’s Cross track was replaced at Platform 5 in addition to the installation of under-track crossings.
At Stevenage, more work was carried out on the new terminus platform for the Hertford North line (work will resume in the summer). Power supplies were also upgraded.
Nearly 2.5 miles of track was renewed south of Grantham using NR’s high output renewal system, in a 54-hour blockade which would otherwise have taken nine weekends to deliver. The project achieved a national record for work delivered in the time.
At Leeds, Platforms 1-5 were closed from December 24-30 to allow work to continue on the station’s new platform, in addition to testing of signalling equipment, changes to the track layout and installation of new overhead line equipment. This project is due to be completed in 2021.
At nearby Neville Hill depot, ballast at a junction was replaced.
And on the Midland Main Line, signalling for the Brent Cross
West station was installed. Track quadrupling between Sharnbrook and Kettering was physically completed but needs to be approved before it can be used.
At York, track dating back to 1947 at Platform 6 was replaced, in addition to the buffer stop.
This work will allow Class 800s to use the platform without any restrictions.
And just south of Newcastle, on the King Edward Bridge, longitudinal timbers were replaced in the tenth part of a 12-phase programme to replace all beams.
On the Anglia Route, new overhead wires were installed at Wickford, and track and points replaced at Colchester. Bridge strengthening and repairs took place at Rochford (Essex) and at Prickwillow (Ely), in addition to track maintenance and repairs around Liverpool Street and Bethnal Green. Enabling works also continued on the Barking Riverside extension.
In the North West and Central Region, HS2 preparation works continued, as did work on overhead line equipment stanchions at Bletchley before the new flyover that will carry East West Rail over the West Coast Main Line is built.
Track was replaced at Tring and Crewe and renewed in the Haddenham & Thame Parkway areas.
Track renewals and a level crossing replacement took place near Warrington, while piling was carried out at Humphrey Park (Greater Manchester) for platform extensions.
Ballast was replaced in Wolverhampton and preparation works continued for the resignalling of Birmingham New Street in 2022.
In Greater London, preparations for Crossrail continued, with the new floor slab for the street-level concourse at Ealing Broadway constructed in addition to a new canopy at Platform 4 and at Platform 2 for the control room.
At Acton Main Line, station building structural steelwork is being installed, as it has been at West Ealing for the east wall of the main station building.
All bridge foundations have been completed at Hayes & Harlington, with the overbridges installed between Platforms
1-2 and 3-4. The new structure was brought into public use on December 31.
The final footbridge section over the relief lines at Southall has been installed, and at West Drayton the subway canopy and eastern subway wall have been demolished. Excavations of the existing ticket hall/subway link and structural slab are now completed.