The Elizabeth Line (Crossrail 1)

[mackenziesoley]

Originally Posted by Jon10

More platforms at St Pancras would have surely helped though.

More platforms would require rebuilding the station above costing a lot of money. Wad never ever going to happen.

[mr_jrt]

Originally Posted by mackenziesoley

More platforms would require rebuilding the station above costing a lot of money. Wad never ever going to happen.

The new platforms were built as far north (largely outside the old train shed) as they were for a reason. Building more during construction would have been quite easy, abet more expensive than not building them, which is how we ended up where were are.

[mackenziesoley]

Originally Posted by mr_jrt

The new platforms were built as far north (largely outside the old train shed) as they were for a reason. Building more during construction would have been quite easy, abet more expensive than not building them, which is how we ended up where were are.

Platforms still the old. For tracks would have required junction under old shed creating building risk.

[Jon10]

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[*Nurse*]

I haven't seen any photos of the Royal Oak portal for a long time, so I headed over there this morning. According to the website there is or has been plenty of work there this month.

[Jon10]

This is from Lemmo's piece in 'London Reconnections' in 2013.


Is there a diagram somewhere of what has actually been built as the track layout?


Will the IEP depot get a western connection to the GWML, or isn't it worth it with everything starting from Paddington and ending there?

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[Vulcan's Finest]

An article demonstrating how the hard working TBMs are dealt with when the last tunnel segment is completed... an ignominious end for poor 'Victoria' after all it has done on our behalf.

http://www.railtechnologymagazine.co...ail-completion

[Jon10]

Originally Posted by Vulcan's Finest

An article demonstrating how the hard working TBMs are dealt with when the last tunnel segment is completed... an ignominious end for poor 'Victoria' after all it has done on our behalf.

http://www.railtechnologymagazine.co...ail-completion

It would be sadder seeing one of the shields turning off line, and being abandoned down there.

That is happening with some, isn't it?

[1M14]

Originally Posted by Jon10

This is from Lemmo's piece in 'London Reconnections' in 2013.


Is there a diagram somewhere of what has actually been built as the track layout?


Will the IEP depot get a western connection to the GWML, or isn't it worth it with everything starting from Paddington and ending there?

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I don't think we're going to see eight-tracking, since there's no need for extra Main line platforms. At the moment, Crossrail will run on the GWML reliefs west of the Westbourne Park sidings, which puts a limit on both the number of Crossrail and GWML relief services. Another pair of tracks could be used by Crossrail only, meaning that the merge point moves west of Old Oak Common, where there would be no extra services merging in than is already planned to be the case. The extra Crossrail services would either reverse at Old Oak Common and/or they would go to whatever line is connected in instead.

[Vulcan's Finest]

Originally Posted by 1M14

I don't think we're going to see eight-tracking, since there's no need for extra Main line platforms. At the moment, Crossrail will run on the GWML reliefs west of the Westbourne Park sidings, which puts a limit on both the number of Crossrail and GWML relief services. Another pair of tracks could be used by Crossrail only, meaning that the merge point moves west of Old Oak Common, where there would be no extra services merging in than is already planned to be the case. The extra Crossrail services would either reverse at Old Oak Common and/or they would go to whatever line is connected in instead.

I can't see the need for eight tracks up to Westbourne Park but eight will be needed at OOC itself if main line (fast) platforms are stipulated. Plans exist for 20 TPH frequency on the mains in the peak, so either nothing fast (IEPs and 387s) calls at OOC or everything does.

[cle]

Same thing as Reading basically, so that trains can alternate A/B (or L/R) as they come in to stop and leave?

[Jon10]

Originally Posted by 1M14

I don't think we're going to see eight-tracking, since there's no need for extra Main line platforms. At the moment, Crossrail will run on the GWML reliefs west of the Westbourne Park sidings, which puts a limit on both the number of Crossrail and GWML relief services. Another pair of tracks could be used by Crossrail only, meaning that the merge point moves west of Old Oak Common, where there would be no extra services merging in than is already planned to be the case. The extra Crossrail services would either reverse at Old Oak Common and/or they would go to whatever line is connected in instead.

They have certainly built the two top tracks in the 2009 image, and also repopulated the carriage flyover with a shiny new track.

So what is the latter for now, exactly?


I presume the IEP depot connections come off the flyover track, although you wouldn't want a single point of failure, as in the 2009 image, or you could cut off all the IEP trains from actually leaving the site.

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[1M14]

Originally Posted by Vulcan's Finest

I can't see the need for eight tracks up to Westbourne Park but eight will be needed at OOC itself if main line (fast) platforms are stipulated. Plans exist for 20 TPH frequency on the mains in the peak, so either nothing fast (IEPs and 387s) calls at OOC or everything does.

Yes, there would still be eight platforms at Old Oak Common for GWML/Crossrail services. The southern four would be on the mains with each direction having two platform faces, meaning it would be possible to stop all 20tph there while retaining reasonable dwell times with end doored IEPs. The reliefs won't see dwell times being so long, so it would be acceptable to have only one platform face per running line.

[*Nurse*]

Does anyone know how this yellow concreting train works?
Where are the tracks it rides on? Can I presume it lays the concrete behind itself as it goes?

[Vulcan's Finest]

Originally Posted by *Nurse*

Does anyone know how this yellow concreting train works?
Where are the tracks it rides on? Can I presume it lays the concrete behind itself as it goes?

Poster '01276' answered this question on the WNXX forum.

The sleepers and Long Welded Rail is strung out down the by the MPG (see: http://www.ascenda-mcl.com/IMG/jpg/M...e_Gantry_9.jpg). And positioned on jigs. I think a Geismar PRV550 will be used to do the initial positioning.

The concrete train is basically a batching plant and pump on wheels. It is reversed into the tunnel and stops at the end of the existing concreted track, the pump which is the lead wagon has a pipe on small trolleys for around 300mtrs in-front which goes over the track to be concreted which is held up on jigs. The train then pulls back or forward to concrete the track from the end of the pipe.

[*Nurse*]

Originally Posted by Vulcan's Finest

Poster '01276' answered this question on the WNXX forum.

Thank you VF, but you'll need to say it more slowly

OK, there's a gantry that rests on those concrete ridges, but where do those come from?

Rails and sleepers are laid for the next 300m - how do they get past the concreting train? Oh, can the gantry run above the train?

Do they then wait a day or two for it to set before continuing?

[Vulcan's Finest]

Originally Posted by *Nurse*

Thank you VF, but you'll need to say it more slowly

OK, there's a gantry that rests on those concrete ridges, but where do those come from?

Rails and sleepers are laid for the next 300m - how do they get past the concreting train? Oh, can the gantry run above the train?

Do they then wait a day or two for it to set before continuing?

Not sure if the crossrail tunnels will have those ridges cemented in before the track laying starts. They might use temporary guide rails. I recall I've seen gantries with inclined wheels running directly on the tunnel lining too. Something like this:


The gantry can run above flat wagons holding track sections which it picks up, probably not above the concrete wagons though.

Look at this picture of the slab track in Boshank tunnel on the Borders Line. Below the sleeper blocks on the left hand track you can see steel rebar cages onto which the preformed track panels are placed. Once this is done the gantry can bring along a long suspended flexi pipe and liquid concrete is poured into the gaps between the rebar. Or the pipe can be carried on wheeled trolleys that runs on the rails. The resulting concrete slab can be seen on the right. Crossrail will no doubt employ similar techniques.



I imagine the concrete sets for between 12 and 24 hours before the process is repeated for the next track section to be laid.

[Jon10]

And the movie,...



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[gerryuk]

Custom House Station - taken from my mobile on Thursday.
Lift shaft and stairs to entrance on Freemasons Road




Victoria Dock Road






Track being laid




From DLR platforms






















Not the best but they were from my mobile.

[Jon10]

Slide show from last year:

http://www.slideshare.net/ihudhaif/h...-forward-day-2





.. and one about Whitechapel station:

http://www.slideshare.net/ihudhaif/h...berg-crossrail


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