Crossrail/Elizabeth Line. From construction to operation - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[Oxonhutch]

That goods lift at the end of Platform 12 will have to go.  Let's hope the powers-that-be also alter the canopy and valancing on the existing Platform 13 to suit the new extended edge of 12.  Do II's comments infer that Chiltern will loose their one path per day into Paddington (usually Platform 14).  I understand that their route past North Acton might be compromised by HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) ventilation shafts but are there other plans to terminate this 'Parliamentary' (?) service in the near future?

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, the goods lift would be removed - pretty sure it's lain unused for many years.  Chiltern's service could continue and use platform 14 as I would imagine that off-peak capacity will still be available with the extra long-distance services cancelled out by the removal of most of the local services.

[paul7575]

The platform changes at Paddington are a component of the 'IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) capacity scheme' and were flagged up in the CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) enhancements milestones document, the March 2014 edition includes this, noting that P14 is also extended, I believe that is right out into the throat alongside the LU tracks.

...at Paddington station: combining two short platforms (12 and 13) to provide a single
platform to accommodate a 260m long Class 800 or Class 801 train or 12 x 20m car EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit);
and extension of platform 14 to accommodate a 12 x 20m car EMU contributing to the
delivery of the HLOS^▸ (High Level Output Specification) capacity metric for London Paddington.

March 14 was the first time it was confirmed in the text, during CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014) they only mentioned that fairly generalised IEP capacity proposals were being reviewed.

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Thanks for that extra info, Paul.

[Oxonhutch]

Checking out Google maps and satellite images I struggle to see how they will fit in a 240 m long platform face in that area.  There is a bit of room in the underground section for a few 10s of metres of track (in the LU tunnel convergence) but in the station throat they need to find about 100m of single-sided platform between Bishops Road and Westbourne Bridge.  I will be interested in seeing the plans.

[Electric train]

Yes, the goods lift would be removed - pretty sure it's lain unused for many years.

The Plat 12 lift was disconnected in the early 1980's, it was cheaper to build the connection from 12 to 13/14 for the Red Star Parcels and Royal Mail than refurbish it and the lift on Plat 8 which as a pain of a lift to work on because the platform to subway was OOU^▸ (out of use) the wooden guides below the platform were warped so the lift car could never go down to a sensible level to work on the dog's (emergency break system!!!) and the lift well was always flooded.

Cut my teeth on lift maintenance on those old Wadsworth lifts

[stuving]

The platform changes at Paddington are a component of the 'IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) capacity scheme' and were flagged up in the CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) enhancements milestones document, the March 2014 edition includes this, noting that P14 is also extended, I believe that is right out into the throat alongside the LU tracks.

...at Paddington station: combining two short platforms (12 and 13) to provide a single
platform to accommodate a 260m long Class 800 or Class 801 train or 12 x 20m car EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit);
and extension of platform 14 to accommodate a 12 x 20m car EMU contributing to the
delivery of the HLOS^▸ (High Level Output Specification) capacity metric for London Paddington.

March 14 was the first time it was confirmed in the text, during CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014) they only mentioned that fairly generalised IEP capacity proposals were being reviewed.

Paul

But, oddly, that description has been removed from the December 2014 update.

The milestone reference for it, however, is the same:

Milestone	Description	Date	Status
Paddington station capacity     works ^GRIP▸ (Guide to Railway Investment Projects) 3 complete	Single option selection	August 2011	Complete

And no mention of GRIP 4 or later.

[SandTEngineer]

According to the most current Signalling Scheme Plan (November 2012) the Platform No.14 available length will be 178m (currently 148m).  I am aware that the Signalling Scheme Plan is being updated so this may change.

Out of interest the starting signals on Platform Nos. 1 to 5 are being moved further West by approximately 25m to extend the available standage and that Platform No.12 once extended will be the longest platform in the station at 334m.

[IndustryInsider]

According to the most current Signalling Scheme Plan (November 2012) the Platform No.14 available length will be 178m (currently 148m).  I am aware that the Signalling Scheme Plan is being updated so this may change.

So it will be able to accommodate an 8-car EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) with 20m vehicles.  Sensible provision, and that will presumably take it as far as they can without costly redesign work.

[paul7575]

Looks like quite a fluid situation then.  Perhaps the 240m length was a transitional idea, but 'IEP^▸ (Intercity Express Program / Project.) capacity' were unwilling to fund it, so it has been moved into the 'Thames Valley EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)' project's area of work, and they don't need actually need it yet.

Or something like that - and in any case the latest CP5^▸ (Control Period 5 - the five year period between 2014 and 2019) milestones author wasn't sure where to include it so edited it out badly...

Paul

[Timmer]

I spoke with my colleagues yesterday in the web team and they promised to deal with it right away.
I'll chase again.

Hmmm well it wasn't much of a promise from the web team unless they are on the site and I can't find them.

[NickB]

I was wondering if anyone knows what the multi coloured panelled 'shed on stilts' is that has been built outside of Paddington on the crossrail site? Having seen it be built over the past year I thought that all would become clear to me but I'm still stumped.

Same question goes for the concrete structure next to the stilt shed that looks like a two-storey car park.

Thanks

[Electric train]

I was wondering if anyone knows what the multi coloured panelled 'shed on stilts' is that has been built outside of Paddington on the crossrail site? Having seen it be built over the past year I thought that all would become clear to me but I'm still stumped.

Same question goes for the concrete structure next to the stilt shed that looks like a two-storey car park.

Thanks

The shed is a new concrete batching plant to replace the one demolished.
The concrete slab on stilts I believe is for busses again to replace what was there before the area was cleared.

[NickB]

Thanks!

[IndustryInsider]

Looks like work has started on the new platform at West Ealing which will (from next year, I think) allow the Greenford service to operate as a shuttle service during the peaks (and the rest of the day?) and not mean a 2-car unit takes up two vital paths out of Paddington each hour. 

I'm hoping EMUs^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) arriving next year will be able to use these paths for extra services to places like Southall, Hayes and West Drayton before the Crossrail services commence to provide a much needed boost in capacity - though I'm mindful that Crossrail construction means Line 6 near Paddington will be cut short for a while, so I'm not sure those extra paths will exist?