London Bridge
Network Rail says there have been no service-affecting infrastructure failures since the penultimate phase of the London Bridge remodelling was completed on August 28, with the Public Performance Measure (PPM) of trains running through the station at 95%.
Speaking exclusively to RAIL, Network Rail Project Director, Thameslink Railway Systems Mark Somers said the latest works - which included bringing lines 6/7 back into use - have provided much more flexibility to Down Charing Cross services, with trains able to use alternate platforms. This has meant that trains are not now waiting for clear platforms at London Bridge.
Tracks on the Bermondsey diveunder have now been completed, with two new lines brought into service at the commissioning. This allows attention to turn to completion of the remaining signalling installation works and pre-testing, ahead of the final Christmas blockade.
Lines 3 and 4, which formerly served Charing Cross services, have been taken out of use to make the final connections to the Bermondsey flyover. And the tracks for Platforms 3 and 4, which are designated for Thameslink services, are now under construction.
The station remodelling is believed to be among the biggest ever undertaken in Britain. The final phase will involve commissioning Platforms 1-5, opening the remainder of the new concourse, and commissioning new signalling (including European Train Control System Level 2). This will take place between December 23 2017 and January 1 2018.
During the Christmas blockade, two crossovers at Blackfriars will be taken out and new ones made operational, along with
reconnection to the Spur lines running round to Charing Cross and London Bridge - providing greater flexibility in operations throughout this area.
Somers said the biggest task will be to bring hundreds of new signalling assets into use. To achieve this, many of these will be tested and corresponded to the Three Bridges Rail Operating Centre before the blockade starts.
In the final 24-36 hours of the blockade, the signalling sections and track layout will be proved and test trains will run through the area, including Class 700s to prove the ETCS installation. Trains will be diverted - many to London Victoria and some to the former International platforms at Waterloo.
By the time work is completed, more than 25 miles of tracks will have been relaid on the approaches to London Bridge, and about 150 switches and crossing units installed. Particular attention has been paid to the resilience of signalling systems, with much equipment traditionally located on the trackside relocated to make it easier to access and maintain.
Several signalling innovations are being introduced to improve service reliability through the area. The first is Proceed on Sight Aspect, a signal aspect for use during lineside signalling failures which instructs drivers to enter a signal section.