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

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

I wonder if that will have a knock-on effect on 'our bit' - i.e. from west of Paddington now due to open just three months after this revised central section date?

[JayMac]

"On time and on budget" statements were regularly trotted out by Chris Grayling, Sadiq Khan and Crossrail themselves.

£600 million over budget and now at least 9 months late. 

[didcotdean]

The press release from Crossrail is here.

The original programme for testing has been compressed by more time being needed by contractors to complete fit-out activity in the central tunnels and the development of railway systems software. Testing has started but further time is required to complete the full range of integrated tests.
The focus remains on opening the full Elizabeth line, from Reading and Heathrow in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east, as soon after the central tunnels open as possible.
Simon Wright, Crossrail Chief Executive said: “The Elizabeth line is one of the most complex and challenging infrastructure projects ever undertaken in the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) and is now in its final stages. We have made huge progress with the delivery of this incredible project but we need further time to complete the testing of the new railway. We are working around the clock with our supply chain and Transport for London to complete and commission the Elizabeth line.”

Only an oblique mention of the readiness (or not) of the stations which has also been called into question if only from how some look at ground level. Or the poor reliability so far of the trains that are already in service.

[grahame]

Dear Graham
 
You may have seen today’s announcement by TfL^» (Transport for London - about) Crossrail that the section of Crossrail from Paddington through the new Central London sections to Abbey Wood is now delayed.  The full release is here http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/elizabeth-line-services-through-central-london-to-start-in-2019
 
This is disappointing, but we understand the need for TfL and Network Rail to have everything working well before opening. The delay to this section will not affect GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) services to and from Paddington. 
 
There has been no announcement on the Reading to Paddington section of Crossrail which is due to open in December 2019 but clearly that is now at risk.  We will keep you informed if there are any changes to this.
 
Best wishes
 
Mark

[adc82140]

Isn't this going to lead to a bit of a stock shortage? We have 11x (?) 387s going to Heathrow Express, I'm sure on the assumption that 345s would take over the Reading work. The 769s are very very late (Northern haven't got theirs yet, and I think that the Welsh franchise are in front of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) in the queue as well).

Speculation time....

However it's effectively an EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) shortage, and there are some in storage available now (365s). Although not ideal, any train is better than no train, and Scotrail have proven what can be done on short notice.

[TaplowGreen]

"Railway project massively delayed and hugely over budget"


- anyone surprised? 


…………...meanwhile a bear is heading to the woods with a roll of Andrex…………..

[sikejsudjek3]

Well lets hope that as this project is now over budget and late, any further crossed leg rail is put on hold indefinitely as per electrification in the west ! 

Of course that won't happen as its Lundun !

[grahame]

Isn't this going to lead to a bit of a stock shortage? We have 11x (?) 387s going to Heathrow Express, I'm sure on the assumption that 345s would take over the Reading work. ...

Can they (345s) do Reading to Paddington High Level rather that Reading to Paddington Low Level?

[Timmer]

Can they (345s) do Reading to Paddington High Level rather that Reading to Paddington Low Level?

I’m pretty certain I’ve seen a picture somewhere of a 345 at Paddington (High Level)

I’m sure there is a great deal of disappointment in London that relief in the form the central section of the Elizabeth Line is now the best part of the year away.

[Electric train]

Isn't this going to lead to a bit of a stock shortage? We have 11x (?) 387s going to Heathrow Express, I'm sure on the assumption that 345s would take over the Reading work. The 769s are very very late (Northern haven't got theirs yet, and I think that the Welsh franchise are in front of GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) in the queue as well).

Speculation time....

However it's effectively an EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) shortage, and there are some in storage available now (365s). Although not ideal, any train is better than no train, and Scotrail have proven what can be done on short notice.

The West of Paddington was not due to commence until December 2019, this announcement is for the core route Abbey Wood - Paddington, I am not sure when the HEX services start date is for GWR 387


There is a lot to get commissioned and functioning before the public service; my guess is this is a pessimistic announcement and they will try to open earlier

[paul7575]

Can they (345s) do Reading to Paddington High Level rather that Reading to Paddington Low Level?

I’m pretty certain I’ve seen a picture somewhere of a 345 at Paddington (High Level)

Class 345s have been running twice an hour between Paddington HL and Hayes and Harlington bay since they took over that service from GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) in May.   It is only the 2 tph into Heathrow that are temporarily using 360s.

Paul

[Birdie100]

So conceivably even if the ‘middle bit’ weren’t ready, the Elizabeth line could use the 345s and ‘start’ next December into Paddington high level?

[paul7575]

So conceivably even if the ‘middle bit’ weren’t ready, the Elizabeth line could use the 345s and ‘start’ next December into Paddington high level?

It would depend on overall platform capacity, but I don't think it should be impossible.

Paul

[CJB666]

This week's Rail Magazine has a brief from TfL^» (Transport for London - about) via Assistant Chief Editor Richard Clinnick in that Crossrail is 93% finished and that the only remaining work needed is completing the fitting out of stations.

Hmm - well not west of Paddington.  ALL stations are far from complete. Many are STILL building sites with no work being done at them - zero, zilch, sfa. Others have not even started to be rebuilt / modified.

And I hear that the eastern end stations are similarly incomplete.

93% my a... More like 50%. And now the money has run out.

[TonyK]

I travelled parallel to one just yesterday leaving Paddington and was struck with exactly the same observation.  I have never seen a carriage with so much fresh air underneath.  There looks room for a couple of diesel engines under each one!

That is odd. It's hard to comment based on the pictures people post on line, since they are never  taken side--on near the middle of a train. However, I did find some in comments on this somewhat obsessive web page (of The Anonymous Widower), with the comment "There’s some complicated gear underneath".

Seen from past the end, there are obviously plenty of boxes under the first three cars - DMSO^▸ (Driving Motor Standard Opens)/PMSO^▸ (Pantograph Motor Standard Opens)/MSO^▸ (Motor Standard Opens). The middle three are two more MSOs and a TSO^▸ (The Stationary Office (now OPSI)); obviously the trailer could be almost unladen underneath, and as those motor carriages are omittable they may have not so much either (though I'd expect the odd IGBT^▸ (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) or two). "What a lot of motors", you may say - but it's only one bogie per car, and that in itself halves the drive electronics needed relative to a VFD^▸ (Variable Frequency Drive) box per bogie.

But maybe it just depends on what you are used to seeing in that area - IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) are about as full of stuff underneath as is possible.

A request - I checked the list of acronyms and abbreviations, and found IET, but none of the others. For the benefit of the dozen or so members of the coffee shop who don't what they all mean, could you enlighten us please? I'll be happy to update the acronyms page, once I and the other 11...