Crossrail - Construction updates and progress towards opening (now expected 24 May 2022)

[fat_boy_pete]

The trial event featuring members of the "public" this morning, including an evacuation from the train through a section of tunnel and into Farringdon station as well as evacuating Farringdon itself was successful. Members of staff said it was the greatest number of people using the line at any point thus far. I expect photos and videos will surface in due course.

The Crossrail project Twitter account retweeted several participants pictures and videos today.

This thread is probably the most comprehensive:

Hello from 9Y51! The Elizabeth line train about to leave Woolwich as part of the second mass volunteer trial operation on Crossrail.

Soon this train will break down just outside of Farringdon where myself and a thousand other "fake" passengers will be evacuated via the tunnel! https://t.co/9BN6n9rODY

https://twitter.com/omari_antony/status/1494989982540390403?t=PWMpGLJhVYUWUxxldQuGig&s=19

 

[Yindee8191]

Charing Cross has zero diesels trains using it so there would be no fumes whatsoever

Yes, that is very much exactly the point I was making, lol

 

[Dstock7080]

Isn't the Piccadilly line station still open? I can't remember offhand how integrated it is with the mainline station.

Still closed as is the air terminal.

 

[mr_moo]

Hi all,

There's a talk coming up on Crossrail West stations:

Crossrail West stations, online

A joint evening Knowledge event from ICE NI and The Concrete Society

www.ice.org.uk

Monday 07 March 2022, 18:15 - 19:15

This joint event between ICE and the Concrete Society will present a paper on Europe’s largest infrastructure project – Crossrail

GRAHAM have been appointed to construct and upgrade three railway stations as part of the new high frequency, high-capacity railway for London and the south east. It is to be known as the Elizabeth Line when services begin through central London later this year, the new railway system will be fully integrated with the existing transport network. To improve journey times, ease congestion and offer better connectivity for c200m passengers each year, many of the stations along the route require significant upgrading. Currently in progress are two completely new stations in West Ealing and Acton Mainline, and significant remodelling of Ealing Broadway. Valued at £50m, all three schemes, which are located on the Great Western Main Line, fall under the Crossrail West Enhanced Stations Phase 2 – Work Package 2

It's free and you don't need to be an ICE member to join, although you do have to register on the website.

 

[pacenotes]

My facebook reminded me of the photo I took 4 years ago showing the roof going onto Paddington station.

And my comment was only 7 months till it's open!

Which has aged well as it's now hopefully less than 7 months till its open

 

[matt_world2004]

They have removed all the tfl rail roundels from the train I was on ( you could still see the shadow of them) surely this must mean the launch isnt far away if they are replacing them with Elizabeth line ones.

 

[fat_boy_pete]

Another test evacuation exercise completed today via the Limmo wharf emergency exit. Twitter threads with videos/pictures in links

https://twitter.com/shipleynoise/status/1497567580286074886?t=aZwWKbFFAon-KUSn57JPSg&s=19

And.

https://twitter.com/bluesoup/status/1497508078366908422?t=JNRzup6Xd1bAK48ZYGLDQw&s=19

 

[jopsuk]

I was on yesterday's Limmo shaft evacuation. Definitely interesting to see the railway in a way I hope I never see as a normal passenger!

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

I was on yesterday's Limmo shaft evacuation. Definitely interesting to see the railway in a way I hope I never see as a normal passenger!

How random are these evacuations tests - ie does the driver know where they have to stop? is the evacuation route stage managed with stewards? hazards protecetd?

 

[Mojo]

How random are these evacuations tests - ie does the driver know where they have to stop? is the evacuation route stage managed with stewards? hazards protecetd?

It was all very convenient, the first train “broke down” with the first set of doors adjacent to a cross passage that took us back into the tunnel going the other direction. Similarly, the second train was stopped adjacent to the doors leading to the intervention shaft.

Rather fortuitously there also happened to be a TfL Incident Response Manager on board and at street level outside the intervention shaft the London Underground Emergency Response Unit were parked up, just by chance of course

 

[jopsuk]

I did get the impression that things didn't run fully as planned- we were certainly late (according to the schedule provided) with the second exercise.

 

[Roast Veg]

I did get the impression that things didn't run fully as planned- we were certainly late (according to the schedule provided) with the second exercise.

I think almost all of them have run behind time, but that will influence policy when it comes to the live railway.

How random are these evacuations tests - ie does the driver know where they have to stop? is the evacuation route stage managed with stewards? hazards protecetd?

It's all planned very carefully, like a fire drill. Stopping position is blocked out, then the driver must "attempt to resolve the train fault", then the response teams (emergency response unit, London fire brigade, British transport police) are called and must travel from their respective offices, then the evacuation takes place under the supervision of the attending response teams.

The only members of staff present that wouldn't be on a live incident were a marshal ensuring the safety of the participants and some additional members of the relevant incident bodies, which were effectively just taking notes.

All those participating were told not to "help out" as members of rail staff might do in a real incident.

 

[kevin_roche]

Another video on YouTube about the station design philosophy. This one features Andy Byford.

 

[Peter Sarf]

From March 13th there’s going to be a minor timetable change on the West - all the Hayes & Harlington services will extend to Heathrow Central then depart empty to T4 (still closed!) and return. So Hayes bay won’t see a normal passenger service.

Does that mean they have to be 387s instead of 345s ?. I seem to recall the 387s are the only EMUs that can go to Heathrow at present ?.

 

[Horizon22]

Does that mean they have to be 387s instead of 345s ?. I seem to recall the 387s are the only EMUs that can go to Heathrow at present ?.

345s have been going to Heathrow for over a year now? TfL Rail run 2tph to Heathrow, it's just going up to 4tph

 

[Peter Sarf]

345s have been going to Heathrow for over a year now? TfL Rail run 2tph to Heathrow, it's just going up to 4tph

Crickey. I had overlooked that. Are 387s still used to Heathrow ?.

 

[Horizon22]

Crickey. I had overlooked that. Are 387s still used to Heathrow ?.

Indeed they are as the Heathrow Express services.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Indeed they are as the Heathrow Express services.

Thanks. So the 345s have eventually made it to Heathrow for the non-express ("Heathrow Connect" ?) services. Presumably just the 9-car version of the 345s ?.

 

[Horizon22]

Thanks. So the 345s have eventually made it to Heathrow for the non-express ("Heathrow Connect" ?) services. Presumably just the 9-car version of the 345s ?.

Yep and they have been since July 2020. Only 9-cars.

 

[rebmcr]

Thanks. So the 345s have eventually made it to Heathrow for the non-express ("Heathrow Connect" ?) services. Presumably just the 9-car version of the 345s ?.

Yes it's only the 9-car 345s.

Since the GW-ATP signalling has been deactivated in the Heathrow tunnels now, the 360s and 332s are no longer allowed in. Only 387s and 9-car 345s are compatible with the remaining signalling (ETCS).

 

[Peter Sarf]

Yep and they have been since July 2020. Only 9-cars.

That long ago !.

Yes it's only the 9-car 345s.

Since the GW-ATP signalling has been deactivated in the Heathrow tunnels now, the 360s and 332s are no longer allowed in. Only 387s and 9-car 345s are compatible with the remaining signalling (ETCS).

Thankyou to you both. I really am shocked at how time has flown past me !.

 

[Roast Veg]

Thankyou to you both. I really am shocked at how time has flown past me !.

If I recall correctly, part of the impetus to get it done so fast was that in the tunnels the ATP and ETCS were not capable of being installed at the same time, so a full changeover was done.

 

[JN114]

If I recall correctly, part of the impetus to get it done so fast was that in the tunnels the ATP and ETCS were not capable of being installed at the same time, so a full changeover was done.

It was surmised as such, but in practice the NR Boffins got both systems to co-exist quite happily in the end

345 (ETCS) introduction was July 2020

332 (ATP) withdrawal was December 2020

 

[Roast Veg]

It was surmised as such, but in practice the NR Boffins got both systems to co-exist quite happily in the end

345 (ETCS) introduction was July 2020

332 (ATP) withdrawal was December 2020

I'm surprised they went as far as interlocking the two, unless the "backend" for lack of a better term is ultimately the same?

 

[kevin_roche]

If I recall correctly, part of the impetus to get it done so fast was that in the tunnels the ATP and ETCS were not capable of being installed at the same time, so a full changeover was done.

I heard a rumour that the interference issue was resolved by a software upgrade to the GSM-R receiver and some changes to the equipment installed at Heathrow T4.

 

[rebmcr]

I'm surprised they went as far as interlocking the two, unless the "backend" for lack of a better term is ultimately the same?

I believe the branch is operated from TVSC (Thames Valley Signalling Centre) along with the rest of the Western Route (GWML and branches), so it is likely that both antennas were simply fed from the same interlocking.

 

[Roast Veg]

I heard a rumour that the interference issue was resolved by a software upgrade to the GSM-R receiver and some changes to the equipment installed at Heathrow T4.

I believe the branch is operated from TVSC (Thames Valley Signalling Centre) along with the rest of the Western Route (GWML and branches), so it is likely that both antennas were simply fed from the same interlocking.

Makes sense, thanks both.

 

[mrmartin]

Any new news or rumors on an (potential) opening date? We are now in March... When do the final tests end?

 

[Roast Veg]

Any new news or rumors on an (potential) opening date? We are now in March... When do the final tests end?

The final trial operation test is this weekend. I wouldn't expect the line to be open before the results of the trial operations (not everything went entirely to plan) are turned into new operational policy. Dates are getting thrown around internally, but I genuinely can't remember which date it was I heard!

 

[Dstock7080]

We are now in March... When do the final tests end?

13 March is the last advertised exercise.