Crossrail/Elizabeth Line. From construction to operation - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[johoare]

One of the railway bridges (highfield lane) in Maidenhead was supposed to be closed (for up to 6 months) this weekend to replace the bridge because of crossrail (I believe). It's now been postponed.. Does anyone know why? It's hard to find any information online about the delay or even the fact it's going to be closed in the first place.

I only found out when my sons school told me it was closing (his school is nearby and therefore affected) although a sign has appeared more recently by the bridge to tell people.

I'm quite relieved to be honest as there is currently no sign that I can see of the promised pedestrian bridge that is supposed to be there during the closure.

[TonyK]

I'm quite relieved to be honest as there is currently no sign that I can see of the promised pedestrian bridge that is supposed to be there during the closure.

I suspect that is the reason for the postponement. Why it happened, I couldn't say, but a lot of assets were thrown into repairing bad weather damage, which MAY have a part to play in this.

[NickB]

I believe the issue is that they haven't secured planning permission, or rather the Council havne't decided if this is Permitted Development or not....

http://www.rbwm.gov.uk/pam/planning_application_search.jsp?appnum=14%2F01505&orderby=createDate&ascending=true

[johoare]

Thanks NickB.. Strange they postponed it so last minute but maybe they were hoping to get planning permission this week. The sign has been manually changed to say the bridge will close on 28th June instead of 23rd.. Well I think that is what it says as it's not too obvious

[Electric train]

Looking at some of the notes Cox Green Parish Council have raise a comment against the Royal Borough, the PC have been want the bridge widened for years, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) will only be raising the bridge to give clearance for the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") and raising the height of the balustrade to 1.8 meters.

I not sure it is Crossrail that far West doing the work its more likely GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) electrification

[TonyK]

I not sure it is Crossrail that far West doing the work its more likely GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) electrification

I agree

[Electric train]

Article in the Maidenhead Advertiser, states the bridge work is being done under permitted development rights, there were so powers that needed to be granted to NR^» (Network Rail - home page) which the Royal Borough gave.

The Parish Council wanted a 2 lane bridge, NR are only funded to replace like for like, Royal Borough view is making the bridge wider would attract HGV through a residential area which I actually agree it would do

Tizer article http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/News/Areas/Cox-Green/Replacement-bridge-in-Highfield-Lane-is-a-missed-opportunity-say-residents-18062014.htm

[Electric train]

Notice this afternoon on the way home some very large steel nails have been tapped into the ground between Taplow and Burnham on the Up Relief side.

By large steel nails I mean steel cylindrical piles approx. 750mm in diameter and some 5 meter long 

The knitting has commenced 

[JayMac]

I noticed those too last week.

[JayMac]

There is a three part BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) documentary series on the building of Crossrail starting next week, July 16th 2014, 9pm, BBC2.

This series follows a team of more than 10,000 engineers and construction workers as they race to build a brand new railway under London - Crossrail - London's new Underground. Costing fifteen billion pounds, it's the biggest engineering project in Europe and a huge challenge to pull off. As they burrow the forty-two kilometres of tunnels, engineers must battle to make sure that listed buildings don't crack, London Underground trains keep running, roads don't shut and the City stays in business. Crucially, they must drive one of their gigantic 1,000-tonne tunnel boring machines through a tiny gap in the congested underbelly of Tottenham Court Road station without the passengers on the tube platforms below knowing they are there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04b7h1w

[centralman]

There is a three part BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) documentary series on the building of Crossrail starting next week, July 16th 2014, 9pm, BBC2.

This series follows a team of more than 10,000 engineers and construction workers as they race to build a brand new railway under London - Crossrail - London's new Underground. Costing fifteen billion pounds, it's the biggest engineering project in Europe and a huge challenge to pull off. As they burrow the forty-two kilometres of tunnels, engineers must battle to make sure that listed buildings don't crack, London Underground trains keep running, roads don't shut and the City stays in business. Crucially, they must drive one of their gigantic 1,000-tonne tunnel boring machines through a tiny gap in the congested underbelly of Tottenham Court Road station without the passengers on the tube platforms below knowing they are there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04b7h1w

Should be quite interesting!

Over the last 7 years, BBC two seems to like these types of documentaries on transport!

They have had the redevelopment of St Pancras International, The Tube, British Airways and now this one!

[eightf48544]

Went to a Crossrail Exhibiton at Maidenehad on Tuesday 8th. Not much going on. Had quite long chat with Crossrail rep however it wasn't John Goldsmith who is teh Western guy but their Northeasr guy.

Still he put me right on Shenfield (see corespondance in rail)

Definitely no loos on trains! Even though it's 36 mies to Reading! Stations to be manned from start to finsh of service so loos and lifts where provided will be open. We'll see how long that lasts before efficiency savings have to be made!

Balfour Beaty still think Platform 6 at Maidemhead will be built. However other sources suggest it's scrapped due to difficulty of piling close to residential flats.

During afternoon very few members of the public.

[TonyK]

There is a three part BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) documentary series on the building of Crossrail starting next week, July 16th 2014, 9pm, BBC2.

This series follows a team of more than 10,000 engineers and construction workers as they race to build a brand new railway under London - Crossrail - London's new Underground. Costing fifteen billion pounds, it's the biggest engineering project in Europe and a huge challenge to pull off. As they burrow the forty-two kilometres of tunnels, engineers must battle to make sure that listed buildings don't crack, London Underground trains keep running, roads don't shut and the City stays in business. Crucially, they must drive one of their gigantic 1,000-tonne tunnel boring machines through a tiny gap in the congested underbelly of Tottenham Court Road station without the passengers on the tube platforms below knowing they are there.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b04b7h1w

I still don't get why they call them boring machines. They fascinate me.

[ChrisB]

Definitely no loos on trains! Even though it's 36 mies to Reading! Stations to be manned from start to finsh of service so loos and lifts where provided will be open. We'll see how long that lasts before efficiency savings have to be made!

Similar to London Overground, Crossrail is a TfL^» (Transport for London - about) contract & they staff first to last.

[Btline]

Hang on, I have colleagues who commute daily from the Reading / Slough area to Canary Wharf.
1 hour? I suppose that's ok - what do people think?