Hi,
I would like to ask a few questions about recent goings-on (infrastructure-wise!) at Hereford.
Firstly, can anyone announce why there's a temporary footbridge being assembled at the north side of the station (by the seldom-used side entrance to the platform)?
I guess it's to do with the infrastructure work required for making P1 and P2 unidirectional? My next questions regard this...
Are any new switches or crossings to be installed north of Hereford, before Shelwick junction? As far as I'm aware, there are no crossings currently from the down line (P1&2) to the up - so any trains taking advantage of the new unidirectional platforms may only return towards Ledbury / Worcester? Is this correct, or will new point work be installed; where will this be?
If new point work is to be installed N of Hereford station, will the up and down relief lines be retained through the station? These are incredibly well used by freight being "looped" - as there are few others places available along the southern half of the Marches line. While the down relief is in good condition, the up relief looks in pretty bad nick and will probably soon want re-laying (several damaged / rotten sleepers).
Regarding the unidirectional P1/P2, will the platforms have new signals installed at the northern end? I would have thought they would be necessary to allow use of both playforms with sufficient overlap - unless the HST stabling line ("under the wall"?) is cannibalised to prevent conflicting routing.
Having made P1 and P2 bidirectional, trains terminating at Hereford (from Brum or London) will now no longer have to use the diesel sidings to the south of Hereford. Therefore, while they are useful for stabling purposes for short-medium durations (or by engineering purposes - there usually a tamper or stone blower there), will the axe fall on the sidings once the Marches upgrades are complete?
Having gone over all of the documentation available in the public domain, I was confused about one part of the NR spec for the other work at Hereford to be completed. I seem to remember the discussion of provision for a south-facing turn back platform. Will this be incorporated by allowing route setting into P1/2 from the south (up) direction, or are there other plans afoot?
And lastly, have they finally sorted the flooding on the up main under the passenger footbridge? The flooding first appeared after the gents toilets had been "refreshed", I assume significant plumbing alterations have occurred. Have there been any track defects there because of the long-term (over 12 month) period of flooding?
All responses welcome!
Andy
I would like to ask a few questions about recent goings-on (infrastructure-wise!) at Hereford.
Firstly, can anyone announce why there's a temporary footbridge being assembled at the north side of the station (by the seldom-used side entrance to the platform)?
I guess it's to do with the infrastructure work required for making P1 and P2 unidirectional? My next questions regard this...
Are any new switches or crossings to be installed north of Hereford, before Shelwick junction? As far as I'm aware, there are no crossings currently from the down line (P1&2) to the up - so any trains taking advantage of the new unidirectional platforms may only return towards Ledbury / Worcester? Is this correct, or will new point work be installed; where will this be?
If new point work is to be installed N of Hereford station, will the up and down relief lines be retained through the station? These are incredibly well used by freight being "looped" - as there are few others places available along the southern half of the Marches line. While the down relief is in good condition, the up relief looks in pretty bad nick and will probably soon want re-laying (several damaged / rotten sleepers).
Regarding the unidirectional P1/P2, will the platforms have new signals installed at the northern end? I would have thought they would be necessary to allow use of both playforms with sufficient overlap - unless the HST stabling line ("under the wall"?) is cannibalised to prevent conflicting routing.
Having made P1 and P2 bidirectional, trains terminating at Hereford (from Brum or London) will now no longer have to use the diesel sidings to the south of Hereford. Therefore, while they are useful for stabling purposes for short-medium durations (or by engineering purposes - there usually a tamper or stone blower there), will the axe fall on the sidings once the Marches upgrades are complete?
Having gone over all of the documentation available in the public domain, I was confused about one part of the NR spec for the other work at Hereford to be completed. I seem to remember the discussion of provision for a south-facing turn back platform. Will this be incorporated by allowing route setting into P1/2 from the south (up) direction, or are there other plans afoot?
And lastly, have they finally sorted the flooding on the up main under the passenger footbridge? The flooding first appeared after the gents toilets had been "refreshed", I assume significant plumbing alterations have occurred. Have there been any track defects there because of the long-term (over 12 month) period of flooding?
All responses welcome!
Andy
