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

[whole diary]

[Thatcham Crossing]

Might make it usable again

Usable maybe, but not cooler unfortunately!

[onthecushions]

While the high temperature results mostly from traction current/braking (which won't change, unless the service has to be reduced), the high humidity (which results from too many customers) may well come down.

It is high humidity that causes discomfort and eventually heat stroke by limiting the ability of the body to sweat and hence cool evaporatively.

OTC

[broadgage]

While the high temperature results mostly from traction current/braking (which won't change, unless the service has to be reduced), the high humidity (which results from too many customers) may well come down.

It is high humidity that causes discomfort and eventually heat stroke by limiting the ability of the body to sweat and hence cool evaporatively.

OTC

Regenerative braking also helps a little since energy from braking a train is returned to the supply, rather than being dissipated as heat in the tunnel.
More efficient lighting in trains and on platforms helps a little, but it must be said that the existing lighting is reasonably efficient.
On the other hand, temperatures will probably continue to increase as the earth around the tunnels continues to heat up.
It is noticeable that in general that the older bits of the tube are the hottest. They have had well over a century to warm the surrounding earth.

[didcotdean]

It is noticeable that in general that the older bits of the tube are the hottest. They have had well over a century to warm the surrounding earth.

Newpaper reports from the early days of the Central London Railway remark on how cool it was there.

[broadgage]

It is noticeable that in general that the older bits of the tube are the hottest. They have had well over a century to warm the surrounding earth.

Newpaper reports from the early days of the Central London Railway remark on how cool it was there.

Indeed, I have read somewhere that the increase in temperature is very roughly one tenth of a degree a year. About ten degrees a century then. Very roughly 15 degrees about 150 years ago has increased to very roughly 30 degrees today.
No great accuracy can be claimed as the measured temperature varies a lot depending on when and where measured.

Older parts of the deep level tube may soon become dangerous without active cooling and preferably dehumidification.

[lordgoata]

Whilst sitting at Platform 4 last night, one of these new fangled purple things arrived from the sidings. I was watching it as it came through (stopped briefly) and something struck me - why do they seem to empty under the carriages themselves (the space between the wheel sets)?

I know they are electric (but so are the 387's) and I know they don't have any toilets (so no retention tanks), but they seem really empty compared to the 387's! Do they have aircon on them? Something must be missing from them!? 

Just curious!

[Oxonhutch]

I travelled parallel to one just yesterday leaving Paddington and was struck with exactly the same observation.  I have never seen a carriage with so much fresh air underneath.  There looks room for a couple of diesel engines under each one!

[bradshaw]

Interesting analysis of Crossrail timetable proposals

https://www.londonreconnections.com/2018/crossrail-timetable-for-success/

[stuving]

I travelled parallel to one just yesterday leaving Paddington and was struck with exactly the same observation.  I have never seen a carriage with so much fresh air underneath.  There looks room for a couple of diesel engines under each one!

That is odd. It's hard to comment based on the pictures people post on line, since they are never  taken side--on near the middle of a train. However, I did find some in comments on this somewhat obsessive web page (of The Anonymous Widower), with the comment "There’s some complicated gear underneath".

Seen from past the end, there are obviously plenty of boxes under the first three cars - DMSO^▸ (Driving Motor Standard Opens)/PMSO^▸ (Pantograph Motor Standard Opens)/MSO^▸ (Motor Standard Opens). The middle three are two more MSOs and a TSO^▸ (The Stationary Office (now OPSI)); obviously the trailer could be almost unladen underneath, and as those motor carriages are omittable they may have not so much either (though I'd expect the odd IGBT^▸ (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) or two). "What a lot of motors", you may say - but it's only one bogie per car, and that in itself halves the drive electronics needed relative to a VFD^▸ (Variable Frequency Drive) box per bogie.

But maybe it just depends on what you are used to seeing in that area - IETs^▸ (Intercity Express Train) are about as full of stuff underneath as is possible.

[Phantom]

I travelled parallel to one just yesterday leaving Paddington and was struck with exactly the same observation.  I have never seen a carriage with so much fresh air underneath.  There looks room for a couple of diesel engines under each one!

Spooky you say that I was travelling out of Paddington on Wednesday and thought how they looked just like a model train, wheels and nothing else underneath, looked very noticeable

[Adelante_CCT]

Interesting analysis of Crossrail timetable proposals
https://www.londonreconnections.com/2018/crossrail-timetable-for-success/

Had a trawl through this last night, however, both this and the other lot (Londonist?) keep coming up with different service patterns every few months based on what they 'think' will happen and no actual evidence of what 'will' happen.

[paul7575]

Interesting analysis of Crossrail timetable proposals
https://www.londonreconnections.com/2018/crossrail-timetable-for-success/

Had a trawl through this last night, however, both this and the other lot (Londonist?) keep coming up with different service patterns every few months based on what they 'think' will happen and no actual evidence of what 'will' happen.

I think some of the London Reconnection authors have pretty good industry contacts.  It’s probably as near to the real thing as they can get.

[paul7575]

Seen from past the end, there are obviously plenty of boxes under the first three cars - DMSO^▸ (Driving Motor Standard Opens)/PMSO^▸ (Pantograph Motor Standard Opens)/MSO^▸ (Motor Standard Opens). The middle three are two more MSOs and a TSO^▸ (The Stationary Office (now OPSI)); obviously the trailer could be almost unladen underneath...

The 444 is another good example where at least one of the trailers would easily pass for a loco hauled coach.

Paul

[Timmer]

Surprise surprise, another almost years delay to the opening of Crossrail:
https://news.sky.com/story/londons-15bn-crossrail-project-to-miss-december-opening-date-11486333

Just slip this out on a Friday and hope no one notices.

[broadgage]

Another report here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-45367990

Opening now to be "autumn 2019" And whom was it who said "never trust an opening date based upon the seasons"
"Autumn 2019" presumably means some time during 2020.

It is reported that more time is needed for testing, so is that the trains don't work ? or the signalling does not work ?

I suspect the signalling.