Slow work on London Overground

[Harlesden]

I am referring to the proposed joining of the the Dalston Junction to Surrey Quays line to the existing Stratford-Richmond/Clapham Junction line just to the west of Dalston Kingsland.
I can't believe it is taking so long considering the Richmond-Stratford line has been closed every Sunday for the past 9-10 months and will remain closed every Sunday until May.
As far as I can see, the work involves installing and configuring one junction, and redeveloping two stations (Canonbury and Highbury & Islington). I use the existing London Overground platforms at Highbury & Islington frequently, and I honestly can't see much going on despite the constant preference of up to a dozen men.
The two "new" platforms at Highbury & Islington are actually the old NLL platforms, so there is no actual building involved

 

[swt_passenger]

I am referring to the proposed joining of the the Dalston Junction to Surrey Quays line to the existing Stratford-Richmond/Clapham Junction line just to the west of Dalston Kingsland.
I can't believe it is taking so long considering the Richmond-Stratford line has been closed every Sunday for the past 9-10 months and will remain closed every Sunday until May.
As far as I can see, the work involves installing and configuring one junction, and redeveloping two stations (Canonbury and Highbury & Islington). I use the existing London Overground platforms at Highbury & Islington frequently, and I honestly can't see much going on despite the constant preference of up to a dozen men.
The two "new" platforms at Highbury & Islington are actually the old NLL platforms, so there is no actual building involved

The lines don't really get joined, as far as passenger services are concerned. The southern pair will operate completely independently of the NLL, it will just operate as a two track terminus normally, however there will be a single track connection west of Highbury for ECS moves as and when required. .

I doubt the regular closures of Richmond - Stratford have anything much at all to do with the ELL extension - there doesn't seem to be any outstanding work at either station that would require the NLL to be closed, for example.
I think it's mostly to do with the outstanding NLL signalling upgrades now, as TfL and NR have announced recently.

 

[Minstral25]

As an occasional user (Usually use ELL from Dalston Jnct) I agree it seems very slow. However the bulk of the work delaying the start has been in the tunnel from Dalston Jnct station which you can't see.

Good News the third rail will be going live on 1st January, and hopefully that indicates the line will be open on time in April once it has been tested

The Closures on Richmond - Stratford are I was told for the new signalling to be installed as the 4 car platform extensions and new overhead lines were complete some time back and are now being used..

 

[t0ffeeman]

New footbridge at Willesden, new signalling making it bi directional, new turnback for Claphams and an extended bay turnback are all i've spotted.

 

[daza7789]

Hi Guys.

Im a signaller on the north london line, and have witnessed many of the changes since the 14 week blockade that started 20th feb 2010. the weekend possesions we have had all year are all to facilitate the groundwork for the resignalling between willesden and stratford, as well as including routine maintanance work etc. these are set to continue until may 2011 when all signalling is transfered to Upminster IECC. by this time the link to the ELL with be commisioned, as well as the Cannonbury curve which has been out of use since feb this year. Unfortunatly weekend blocks are not very long (generaly 01.00 sun to 01.00 mon) thus things have to be planned so as the work load doesnt overrun the alotted time.

On sat 18th december gospel oak - stratford goes under another 15 day possesion, in this stage Camden road, Dalston and Stratford NLL boxes will all be abolished, with control going to Upminster IECC with a temporary fringe to gospel oak. I am not sure if the ELL link or cannonbury curve will be commisioned in this stage, I dont think it is.

There will be a blockade from camden - willesden in Feb 2011. during this stage Gospel oak and willesden High level SBs will be abolished, again with control going to Upminster IECC. This should bring the bulk of the big NLL blockeades to an end, though i think there may be a little follow up work to be done after.

All of the groundwork for the camden - stratford re-sig has been done (ie signals/points/axle counters etc, so will just be a quiestion of commisioning and testing over Xmas, whist removing defunct equipment and signal boxes.
Work is also very nearly finnished on the willesden - camden sections, with the new willesden turnback installed including points and ohle energized. new signals are up, and all connected, and axle counters in place.

In all 4 signal boxes will close, and stratford NLL workstation (in liverpool st IECC) will be abolished.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

Interesting thing about Willesden low level...

Look at the legth and alignment of the new bay platform.

And then note that the new footbridge has been extended across the bay ( presumably at great cost ) to the up platform despite it being easily possible to walk round at the platform level from the down platform.

Now, I have asked about this and been told not, but don't you just get a feeling that they might be planning to eventually turn the present up platform and the bay platform into an island arrangement?

 

[swt_passenger]

Hi Guys...

....There will be a blockade from camden - willesden in Feb 2011. during this stage Gospel oak and willesden High level SBs will be abolished, again with control going to Upminster IECC.

Thanks for the interesting summary of the changes. Am I right in thinking that Upminster will control the NLL all the way to Richmond?

I wonder if there are any changes planned for the various WLL signalling boundaries? Looking at Quail vol 5, it looks as though control passes between Willesden, Wembley, Victoria (Central) and Wimbledon. Not bad going for just a few miles...

 

[daza7789]

Thanks for the interesting summary of the changes. Am I right in thinking that Upminster will control the NLL all the way to Richmond?

I wonder if there are any changes planned for the various WLL signalling boundaries? Looking at Quail vol 5, it looks as though control passes between Willesden, Wembley, Victoria (Central) and Wimbledon. Not bad going for just a few miles...

No, Acton wells will remain, and fringe with upminster at the same place roughly as it currently fringes with high level. Richmond will also remain. There is talk that bollo lane and kew east may be added onto a WETCAD system at acton wells in the future as bollo lane is nearly life expired.

The current WLL fringes will stay as they are, It does seem madness 4 boxes areas passed through between willesden and clapham, but opperationally it makes sence for the boundries of the 4 boxes to be where they are, ie PL2 at clapham is on the windsor side, which is all under wimbledon ASC, so it would be daft for plat 2 to be controlled by Vic.

Hope this helps

Daz

 

[swt_passenger]

The current WLL fringes will stay as they are, It does seem madness 4 boxes areas passed through between willesden and clapham, but opperationally it makes sence for the boundries of the 4 boxes to be where they are, ie PL2 at clapham is on the windsor side, which is all under wimbledon ASC, so it would be daft for plat 2 to be controlled by Vic.

Hope this helps

Daz

Thanks again - just realised that the ELL Phase 2 extension to Clapham Jn will have a similar set of different controlling boxes, leaving the ELL under NXG, then London Bridge, Vic (SE), and Wimbledon again at platfrom 2...