Weekend engineering works East Croydon-London Victoria.

[Bald Rick]

Im totally for blockades by far and away the most effective way of delivering renewals and heavy maintenance. However, in this case we got a blockade to commission the Balham and Clapham Jcn electronic interlockings ( i wont go there that were done originally in 52hr blocks nearly 40 years ago!!). This required Windmill Bridge Jcn to Victoria (c) being closed for 10 days and if these are to be used effectively the likes of Streatham Nth Jcn renewal need to be planned in as well and as much heavy maintenance that you can fit in. You then walk away from the route for abnormals for several years but that isn't what will happen. So as i see it currently all we are doing is NR taking even more access and denying passengers trains and more importantly fare income. Of course operators aren't bothered anymore as they dont have to concern themselves with farebox income.

in the case of the Christmas work there was a big track job in the middle of it. But as you know, you can’t have loads of engineering trains floating around when you are testing the new signalling.

What is done now is not really any different to how we used to do things 15-20 years ago; yes there’s more big blocks, but we also have more work that need it, especially Civils.

 

[43066]

I live on the West Sussex Coast.

Thanks - that wasn’t clear before (and your location now changed I see). Makes a lot more sense! Long commutes are always tricky with shift work.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 31 Jan 2023 ==

yes there’s more big blocks, but we also have more work that need it, especially Civils.

Why is that, out of interest? Ageing infrastructure?

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

in the case of the Christmas work there was a big track job in the middle of it. But as you know, you can’t have loads of engineering trains floating around when you are testing the new signalling.

Streatham Nth Jcn already resignalled and transferred to Three Bridges ROC so was clear of the area being resignalled although may have been a balls ache with having to bring trains in and out from the south so not as efficient but they had ten days to work around that.

What is done now is not really any different to how we used to do things 15-20 years ago; yes there’s more big blocks, but we also have more work that need it, especially Civils.

The ideal outcome of a blockade would be to deliver several years (5 should be goal) without weekend abnormals just nights and extended sat/suns to deal with the rogue p.way failures but that would mean a total reorganisation to the way things are planned, delivered and resourced. Also this would require certain renewals to be accelerated which of course in these cash strapped times aint going to happen.

What should be troubling the industry here is when increasing the fare box income is the ONLY priority we have NR taking more possessions than ever seemingly off the back of oh well less people are travelling. Of course we need to keep renewing the asset base but a perfect railway aint much good if people aren't using and paying for it and in the current environment we know what the DfT will do.

Finally you can't really legislate for civils like Hook and they will have to be dealt as when they arise although by now it must be obvious that considerably more investment is needed in earthworks which are of course the only asset that never gets renewed in some form.

 

[The Planner]

The ideal outcome of a blockade would be to deliver several years (5 should be goal) without weekend abnormals just nights and extended sat/suns to deal with the rogue p.way failures but that would mean a total reorganisation to the way things are planned, delivered and resourced. Also this would require certain renewals to be accelerated which of course in these cash strapped times aint going to happen.

What should be troubling the industry here is when increasing the fare box income is the ONLY priority we have NR taking more possessions than ever seemingly off the back of oh well less people are travelling. Of course we need to keep renewing the asset base but a perfect railway aint much good if people aren't using and paying for it and in the current environment we know what the DfT will do.

Finally you can't really legislate for civils like Hook and they will have to be dealt as when they arise although by now it must be obvious that considerably more investment is needed in earthworks which are of course the only asset that never gets renewed in some form.

No chance, there is that much work that needs doing that one blockade would never sweep up 5 years worth.

 

[Nicholas Lewis]

No chance, there is that much work that needs doing that one blockade would never sweep up 5 years worth.

Im surprised with Victoria (c) to Thornton Heath completely resignalled now , all jcns from Battersea to Streatham Nth (by Easter 23 renewed) thats the big infrastructure items done. Maybe there are earthworks although from four decades travelling the route my recollection its avoided any major issues. So undoubtedly track renewals and possibly some bridges but seems to me its now in better shape than its been since VARS. It also has the benefit of being four track so can tolerate two tracks closed for most routine work.

 

[PGAT]

The RealTimeTrains data between Victoria and Thornton Heath is a bit botched, only showing to the nearest minute (instead of the previous quarter minute) and not reporting on some junctions. Would that be related to the works going on there currently?

 

[The Planner]

Im surprised with Victoria (c) to Thornton Heath completely resignalled now , all jcns from Battersea to Streatham Nth (by Easter 23 renewed) thats the big infrastructure items done. Maybe there are earthworks although from four decades travelling the route my recollection its avoided any major issues. So undoubtedly track renewals and possibly some bridges but seems to me its now in better shape than its been since VARS. It also has the benefit of being four track so can tolerate two tracks closed for most routine work.

I meant in general across the network. Speaking to some of the access planners, sponsors and engineers I know, they could fill multiple blockades a year on single routes.

 

[Bald Rick]

Why is that, out of interest? Ageing infrastructure?

Partly Victorian earthworks showing their age, and partly Victorian earthworks / drainage systems not designed for mid 21st Century intensity of rainfall we get courtesy of Global Warming.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Partly Victorian earthworks showing their age, and partly Victorian earthworks / drainage systems not designed for mid 21st Century intensity of rainfall we get courtesy of Global Warming.

I can believe that. As a gardener we have drier summers but in Winter to Spring the ground is waterlogged and not easy to cultivate. So its the two extremes getting more extreme. I see I am generating a lot more rubbish from cutting back faster growing bushes etc. Grass never used to grow in winter but now the lawnmower has to come out all year round !.

 

[43066]

Partly Victorian earthworks showing their age, and partly Victorian earthworks / drainage systems not designed for mid 21st Century intensity of rainfall we get courtesy of Global Warming.

Thanks! The higher peak temps in summer presumably also don’t help.

 

[Bishopstone]

Using London Bridge during the Victoria blockades, I have come to appreciate what a handy station it is, for onward journeys to almost anywhere. Also, it has a Greggs.

I wonder whether the habits of leisure travellers will change permanently, and GatEx will find itself carrying even more fresh air, once the works (and those at Gatwick Airport) are complete?

 

[Peregrine 4903]

Using London Bridge during the Victoria blockades, I have come to appreciate what a handy station it is, for onward journeys to almost anywhere. Also, it has a Greggs.

I wonder whether the habits of leisure travellers will change permanently, and GatEx will find itself carrying even more fresh air, once the works (and those at Gatwick Airport) are complete?

The Gatwick works are pretty much complete now.

And Victoria and Associated area works are pretty much done by May.

 

[Peter Sarf]

Using London Bridge during the Victoria blockades, I have come to appreciate what a handy station it is, for onward journeys to almost anywhere. Also, it has a Greggs.

I wonder whether the habits of leisure travellers will change permanently, and GatEx will find itself carrying even more fresh air, once the works (and those at Gatwick Airport) are complete?

Not just London Bridge. The central London part of the Thameslink route gets me access to more tube lines, Crossrail and the Kings Cross - Euston termini better than Victoria did. Since Victoria lost its overnight service to Croydon/Gatwick/Brighton I now treat the inner London Thameslink stations as my go to. Although I really wish they would open City Thames link station 24/7 as it is on the night bus route from Victoria.

 

[Route115?]

I lived at Redhill in 1983 during the Victoria resignalling and used to dread the weekend service. Even if the lines were open trains ran late. I used to target one train as it had a long layover & it was the first train the driver worked so he wouln't be delayed.