Extending Crossrail to Reading - ongoing discussion, merged topic

[whole diary]

[BBM]

Is Didcot served by the 400kV super grid? If the wires were extended at least that far (and hopefully also to Oxford) would it be possible to feed the Reading area from there?

[Electric train]

Presumably 400KV will be required at Reading for GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) electrification so could be provided in advance for Crossrail.

Yes 400kV site would be required for GWML to Bristol etc and to Oxford, this has already been identified to National Grid along with a number of other key sites nationally, railway single phase supplies do cause a number of problems to the national grid system. 

T

he great thing about electrifying is once you get the gangs rolling they can put up wire at a phenominal rate. The problem is that probably most of the best BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) electrification engineers have retired. There is the HS1^▸ (High Speed line 1 - St Pancras to Channel Tunnel) team but presumably they've been dispersed to to other jobs plus they weren't wiring an existing railway.

Certainly the 10 years of wilderness of RT has put a hole in the skill base but there still some of us about

[IndustryInsider]

Extending to Reading would certainly allieviate some of the problems but I can't see Crossrail running other than all stations Reading Paddington so Maidenhead Twford and Slough would still probably lose their fast peak services.

With the majority of peak trains from/to Twyford/Maidenhead crossing over to the main lines by Dolphin Junction (east of Slough) at the latest -with some running main line all the way from/to Reading - I should imagine that roughly the same peak hour fast service to the main-line terminal at Paddington could be provided as now without CrossRail hindering it too much. The 5th bi-directional 'utility' Relief line from Airport Junction to Langley might also allow for a semi-fast CrossRail service in the peaks to overtake slower trains stopping between those points?

[Electric train]

Extending to Reading would certainly allieviate some of the problems but I can't see Crossrail running other than all stations Reading Paddington so Maidenhead Twford and Slough would still probably lose their fast peak services.

With the majority of peak trains from/to Twyford/Maidenhead crossing over to the main lines by Dolphin Junction (east of Slough) at the latest -with some running main line all the way from/to Reading - I should imagine that roughly the same peak hour fast service to the main-line terminal at Paddington could be provided as now without CrossRail hindering it too much. The 5th bi-directional 'utility' Relief line from Airport Junction to Langley might also allow for a semi-fast CrossRail service in the peaks to overtake slower trains stopping between those points?

I agree, also one of the problems with Padd is the shortage of platforms which Crossrail will relive as most service will be going through, I believe Hex will also cease releasing 2 platforms

[tom-langley]

Hex is due to stay, this is according to a family memeber who works for them, BAA want to keep a fast sevice. But personally I cant see a buisness case for it after crossrail as alot of its customers come from the city, who is going to want to get on a crossrail train then get off at Paddington to change onto HEX when crossrail will be going to Heathrow anyway for a time saving of aprroximatly 15 mins. But what will go is the Heathrow connect as crossrail will cover its exact route.

[Lee]

Network Rail has announced it is on the look out for a delivery partner to handle work worth ^3bn on the overground sections of the Crossrail project (links below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5451

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/Content/Detail.asp?ReleaseID=4101&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=2

The tender will also include managing construction of new platforms and a grade separated junction at Reading station as part of the ^425m remodelling project due for completion in 2015.

Crossrail works covered by the delivery partner remit include electrifying the western part of the route, major resignalling, rebuilding parts of Paddington station to provide a Crossrail interchange, and station rebuilds at Abbey Wood, Ealing Broadway, Ilford and Romford. The Airport Junction flyover remodelling near Heathrow and platform extensions at more than 20 stations are also included.

On a related note, the FLARE consortium of Fluor, Arup and EC Harris has been dropped from the bidding process to become Delivery Partner for Crossrail and manage the central London underground sections (link below.)
http://www.nce.co.uk/news/2009/01/flare_dropped_from_crossrail_shortlist.html;jsessionid=925211C3BF369E6254772C3A5E42D33C

The remaining consortia are:

- Legacy 3 - a joint venture between Parsons Brinckerhoff Ltd and Balfour Beatty Management Ltd

- Bechtel/Halcrow/Systra joint venture

- Laing O'Rourke Holdings Limited and Atkins

- A joint venture between Capita Symonds Ltd, Bovis and NNN Ltd

Crossrail faces being delayed after the Conservatives sought to block vital legislation to fund the scheme (link below.)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23617431-details/Tory+bid+to+block+law+on+funding+for+Crossrail/article.do

David Cameron led opposition to a new law which would allow ^3.5 billion to be raised through a levy on businesses in the capital to help fund the link.

MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) were due to debate the Business Rate Supplements Bill, but the Tories tabled a motion arguing that the legislation should not be given a second reading - which would effectively kill it off.

They instead want a Crossrail specific law which would limit the levy for use on the link. They are only against councils across the country being able to bring in levies.

But the Government insisted it had no plans to change the legislation and Transport minister Lord Adonis accused the Conservatives of endangering the project.

[eightf48544]

Why can't Crossrail/Networkrail issue 6% 20 year guaranteed bonds?

In the current climate they would be snapped up like hot cakes.

It would enable to work to start sooner rather than later and provide a boost to the constuction industry and provide jobs. Money only works if it circulates.

[simonw]

Good idea, and why cannot NR^» (Network Rail - home page) also issue such bonds to fund electrification of all track?

[bemmy]

I've often wondered what's wrong with raising money through bonds, and the conclusion I have come to is that there's not enough money in it for the government's supporters. Whereas a Public Private Partnership, or PFI, or whatever, provides excellent returns for the corporate parasites -- lawyers, accountants and consultants benefit from the complexity that they are paid to create, while the financial institutions get money for nothing. The same reason the government can see nothing wrong with the current train leasing arrangements which only benefit the banks.

[Lee]

Land required to expand Tottenham Court Road Underground station to handle Crossrail services passes to the Transport for London subsidiary^s control today (link below.)
http://www.transportbriefing.co.uk/story.php?id=5473

The property acquisition notices issued in October 2008 come into effect and will see landmark properties, including the London Astoria music venue, transfer to Crossrail control.

Work will begin immediately to prepare the buildings for demolition. This will start in the spring and is scheduled to finish in mid-2010.

[Btline]

Does the title of you post, Lee, suggest that Crossrail will be extended to Reading?

Typical of the Tories to delay this project..... I doubt they'll delay the axing of the West congestion charge zone.

[Lee]

Does the title of you post, Lee, suggest that Crossrail will be extended to Reading?

Fair point, but purely unintentional on my part 

[Electric train]

The two projects are being run by one Project Director and senior team, this makes sense as the two projects will clash in terms of possession planning, resources, engineers etc.  The Reading station redevelopment is being designed Crossrail friendly that is platform configuration, space is being allowed for stabling etc

[Btline]

The two projects are being run by one Project Director and senior team, this makes sense as the two projects will clash in terms of possession planning, resources, engineers etc.  The Reading station redevelopment is being designed Crossrail friendly that is platform configuration, space is being allowed for stabling etc

Urr - so why can't they jump off the fence and state that Crossrail WILL be extended to Reading?

[Electric train]

The two projects are being run by one Project Director and senior team, this makes sense as the two projects will clash in terms of possession planning, resources, engineers etc.  The Reading station redevelopment is being designed Crossrail friendly that is platform configuration, space is being allowed for stabling etc

Urr - so why can't they jump off the fence and state that Crossrail WILL be extended to Reading?

One project is totally funded by the ORR^» (Office of Rail and Road formerly Office of Rail Regulation - about) and does not require an Act of Parliament and the other has a byzantine funding arrangement which does require an Act of Parliament.

These projects have nearly 10 years to run I think that by the time the two projects are complete there will be wonderful knitting over the Sky's of Reading station, it should also be remembered that NR^» (Network Rail - home page) plan to announce the out come of their feasibility studies into route electrification latter this year