Thameslink core engineering works

[Joseph T]

Is it just me or have there been engineering works every Sunday in the past month or so on the Thameslink core?

I was hoping to go to Harpenden this Sunday but the whole network seems to be shut that day and I also remember something similar to this happening a few weeks ago.

Is there anything particularly wrong and/or in need of maintenance/upgrades in the core or do they just do this every month/year due to the heavy use?

 

[poffle]

Is it just me or have there been engineering works every Sunday in the past month or so on the Thameslink core?

I was hoping to go to Harpenden this Sunday but the whole network seems to be shut that day and I also remember something similar to this happening a few weeks ago.

Is there anything particularly wrong and/or in need of maintenance/upgrades in the core or do they just do this every month/year due to the heavy use?

MML is closed from Saint Pancras to Wellingborough on Sunday.

There is also a planned closure on Thameslink Core this weekend.

There was a thread a couple of months which covered of the issues around Thameslink Core closures.

London Blackfriars - Thameslink - 20-21/4/2024

Does anyone know why there do not appear to be any trains stopping at this station on these dates. Can't seem to find any info.

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Supercoss]

01:45 to 09:15 are normal engineering hours on a Sunday as limited access is available, during the week , early trains Sunday start from St Pancras High Level plat 1-4 before 9am.
This Sunday is slightly different Whilst new signalling control centre is brought into use .

 

[Backroom_boy]

This Sunday is slightly different Whilst new signalling control centre is brought into use .

What's the control centre change?

 

[Supercoss]

(WH) West Hampstead PSB that closed on Dec 24th last year re opens fully in a new signalling control centre on Monday 24th June Following 6 months in temporary facility.

 

[John Webb]

(WH) West Hampstead PSB that closed on Dec 24th last year re opens fully in a new signalling control centre on Monday 24th June Following 6 months in temporary facility.

The 1970s 'eNtrance - eXit' push-button panel system at West Hampstead (WH) PSB was taken out of use at the 2023 Christmas Holiday and four new workstation screens brought into use in a temporary signalling control centre in a former mess-room in WH PSB, under the name of 'West Hampstead Signalling Control Centre'. The N-X panel has been dismantled and the room it was in refurbished to house the workstations on a permanent basis.
Also at Christmas 2023 WH was given back control of the St Pancras MML platforms that were being controlled by Three Bridges ROC.
(The previous intention before Covid was to close WH PSB and split its area between Three Bridges and East Midlands ROC at Derby, but that move was cancelled in favour of the above arrangement.)

 

[Backroom_boy]

The 1970s 'eNtrance - eXit' push-button panel system at West Hampstead (WH) PSB was taken out of use at the 2023 Christmas Holiday and four new workstation screens brought into use in a temporary signalling control centre in a former mess-room in WH PSB, under the name of 'West Hampstead Signalling Control Centre'. The N-X panel has been dismantled and the room it was in refurbished to house the workstations on a permanent basis.
Also at Christmas 2023 WH was given back control of the St Pancras MML platforms that were being controlled by Three Bridges ROC.
(The previous intention before Covid was to close WH PSB and split its area between Three Bridges and East Midlands ROC at Derby, but that move was cancelled in favour of the above arrangement.)

Interesting. How many other instances of control being moved *out* of a ROC?

Presumably on the digital railway its relatively 'easy' to re-control modern workstations to a different location?

 

[John Webb]

Interesting. How many other instances of control being moved *out* of a ROC?

Presumably on the digital railway its relatively 'easy' to re-control modern workstations to a different location?

Very few, I would have thought. I can't remember when Three Bridges was given the MML platforms; I assume this was in anticipation of WH PSB closing completely. We heard from about 2010 onwards that there was uncertainty over the boundary location between East Midlands and Three Bridges ROCs - at various time it was to be north of St Albans, north of Luton, just north of Bedford or at the present boundary between WH PSB and East Midlands ROC, I think in the Souldrop area near Sharnbrook Summit.

I understand that while it is relatively easy to move workstations to a different location, even in the same building, nevertheless a full testing regime is needed to ensure the work is done properly and there are no errors as a result of the transfer.

(As least tomorrow afternoon while we're demonstrating the old mechanical system at the St Albans South box we won't be disturbed by noisy trains rushing past - bit of a shame as they do lend atmosphere....)

 

[D7666]

(WH) West Hampstead PSB that closed on Dec 24th last year re opens fully in a new signalling control centre on Monday 24th June Following 6 months in temporary facility.

What is the extent of the new control area ? I ask the question as - and noted above - WH area has altered more than once, so "the same as before" can be open to interpretation depending on the date of "before".

 

[John Webb]

What is the extent of the new control area ? I ask the question as - and noted above - WH area has altered more than ponce, so "the same as before" can be open to interpretation depending on the date of "before".

As originally set up in the 1970s when the N-X panel was brought into full use in 1980, WH covered from the MML platforms (as they were before the Eurostar - ie the whole of St Pancras) up to the boundary south of Irchester South plus the Moorgate line from Moorgate to Engine Shed Junction at Kentish Town. Obviously Moorgate was lost when the line from Farringdon to Blackfriars was reopened, and the main part of St Pancras when Eurostar arrived. I don't have exact dates available. I think when the East Midlands ROC came into action the boundary was moved south to Souldrop, but I've no date again for this. So currently, as I understand it, the Three Bridges ROC controls from south of Dock Junction south along the widened lines.
WH now controls the MML platforms at St Pancras and all lines north from there to Souldrop.
Hope that clarifies things.

UPDATE: I've found the information that WH controls up to the south of Oakley Viaducts across the Great Ouse - I assume these are the ones about three miles north of Bedford. North of that is the EM ROC area of control.

 

[D7666]

As originally set up in the 1970s when the N-X panel was brought into full use in 1980, WH covered from the MML platforms (as they were before the Eurostar - ie the whole of St Pancras) up to the boundary south of Irchester South plus the Moorgate line from Moorgate to Engine Shed Junction at Kentish Town. Obviously Moorgate was lost when the line from Farringdon to Blackfriars was reopened, and the main part of St Pancras when Eurostar arrived. I don't have exact dates available. I think when the East Midlands ROC came into action the boundary was moved south to Souldrop, but I've no date again for this. So currently, as I understand it, the Three Bridges ROC controls from south of Dock Junction south along the widened lines.
WH now controls the MML platforms at St Pancras and all lines north from there to Souldrop.
Hope that clarifies things.

Thanx; excuse belated reply was ooop norf on a rover so only looking at current gen msgs.

One day I might get round to visit St.Albans cabin; despite being a Thameslink Luton commuter and lived here 30+ years I have never yet visited it BUT in mitigation of that I will say I have pencilled in Sundays more than once only to find our wonderful railway has no trains to get me there.

 

[John Webb]

Thanx; excuse belated reply was ooop norf on a rover so only looking at current gen msgs.

One day I might get round to visit St.Albans cabin; despite being a Thameslink Luton commuter and lived here 30+ years I have never yet visited it BUT in mitigation of that I will say I have pencilled in Sundays more than once only to find our wonderful railway has no trains to get me there.

We're open 2-5pm on the 2nd and 4th Sundays March-Oct, the three half-term weeks on Weds afternoons, and extended (10am-5pm) Sat and Sun Heritage Open days - this year Sept 7/8th. Hope you can make it sometime!