King’s Cross un-crossed
ON JUNE 7 Network Rail handed the entire King’s Cross work site back to allow normal running to resume, this time using the completely revised layout, including the third Gasworks Tunnel bore. This is a key element in the £1.2bn East Coast Upgrade. The work allows more trains to enter and exit the station, reducing congestion and bringing more reliable journeys for passengers. The scheme – dubbed ‘King’s Uncrossed’ – involved a wholesale replacement of the more than 40-year-old tracks and track layout on the 1.5-mile approach into the station. It also saw the reopening of a disused tunnel after 44 years to add two additional lines into the station from the north. The complex and challenging programme has seen the replacement and installation of:
More than 6km of new track
More than 30 new sets of points More than 50 new signals
More than 20km of new overhead wires
At the same time as the King’s Cross work, Network Rail engineers have been continuing work on a new tunnel and 1.9 miles of new line at Werrington, north of Peterborough, so that slower moving freight trains will no longer cut across the East Coast Main Line, helping to unlock capacity on the route. This new tunnel is due to open in the autumn.
They are also improving the power supply on the East Coast Main Line to enable faster, quieter and more environmentally friendly electric trains to run. Taken together, these upgrades will deliver improved reliability and punctuality for passengers, as well as ensuring the route has the capacity to deal with future passenger volumes.
Rail Minister Chris Heatonharris said: “This is an amazing achievement and a huge step in the extensive £1.2bn upgrade of the East Coast Main Line, which will better connect the country North to South.”
Rob Mcintosh, Managing Director for Network Rail’s Eastern region said: “This is a day to remember for everyone involved in this mammoth undertaking – they should all be extremely proud of what they’ve achieved.
“To complete such an ambitious scheme that will bring so many important benefits to passengers, while at the same time working hard to keep disruption to a minimum, is testament to the dedication and teamwork of the many different professionals who have worked on it.
“I want to put on record my thanks to all our industry partners, including those operators who, while not directly impacted by the King’s Cross work, have helped to ensure our passenger handling plans were thorough and were able to deal with all eventualities. This has been a truly fantastic example of cross-industry working.
“Finally, I want to say a big thank you to our passengers for their patience and understanding, especially during those periods when it was necessary to close the station or reduce services.”
David Horne, Managing Director at LNER, said: “The completion of the East Coast Upgrade programme will allow us to continue our transformation of the LNER route. We are very grateful for the patience and understanding of customers while the work has been carried out over the past two years. I would also like to thank Network Rail and other industry partners for their hard work ensuring the successful delivery of the project.
“We are looking forward to bringing the significant benefits of the East Coast Upgrade to our customers and communities, transforming rail services with faster, more frequent and more reliable train journeys between London, the north of England and Scotland.”