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

[whole diary]

[TonyK]

Cough ... I rather think we've used that particular one-liner before: http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=8946.msg118729#msg118729   

Crikey - that was nearly two years ago! I forget things I did and said earlier this Christmas holiday. But my apologies, and thanks for keeping such detailed notes.

[Electric train]

The platform canopy is being removed on platform 4 ready to be cut back for electrification also part of the roof is off of the train shed.  All just in time for the winter 

[John R]

Sorry, which station are you referring to?

[TonyK]

Sorry, which station are you referring to?

I'm guessing it's not Temple Meads...

Reading or Maidenhead?

[Electric train]

Sorry, which station are you referring to?

Other than Paddington there is only one station on Crossrail that has a train shed ............. Maidenhead

Also the canopy is coming off at Burnham as well

[John R]

Are these going to be reinstated in as close a form to the original as is possible, or is another part of Great Western heritage being lost in the name of progress?

[eightf48544]

Canopy partly cut back on paltform 3 at Taplow.

Flower beds dug up!

[Chris125]

A map of the proposed Crossrail WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line) link has appeared as part of HS2^▸ (The next High Speed line(s)) Ltd's community consultations, with thanks to an eagle-eyed poster on London Reconnections:

http://assets.hs2.org.uk/sites/default/files/event_speakers/LWM-HS2-EN-MAP-010-000002-P06.pdf

Fully segregated from the Dudding Hill line with turnback sidings, this looks likely to be the route put forward in the forthcoming consultation.

Chris

[Oxonhutch]

Having just done the short shuttle to Colnbrook Sidings in a 150 I was curious as to the future Crossrail plans at West Drayton, particularly the tortuous dog-leg into the old Staines Branch loop platform. 

I came across this plan which shows how this will be achieved, utilising the strip of railway land formally used for canal side warehousing.  Quite a neat plan I think.

(Edited so I.I. can stop coughing!)

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, it is a pretty neat plan and one that was pretty much the only option at [cough] West Drayton 

The land between the current formation and canal is ideal for smoothing out the curves to reinstate an extra platform for passenger use, and the platform 'extension' will, in reality, be almost a completely new platform.  The new footbridge will make providing lifts much easier than using the current subway, and presumably a much more inviting concourse/ticket hall will be provided.

It looks as if work has already started on getting the land ready for the new platform to be built, which will presumably have to happen before the old platform can be fully demolished.  I'm guessing that freight trains will cross onto the existing up relief line before the station (using the new crossover marked on the map), so that the new platform can be built without disrupting the station workings too much.

[johoare]

Having taken a fair chunk of the roof off at Maidenhead (hopefully to be replaced soon) we now can't see what is being displayed on the departures board between platforms 4 and 5 unless it's a very dull day.. Also the coffee kiosk either has to suffer rain coming in the front of it or sun (since the sun is low this time of year) melting anything that can melt on the food on offer..

Do we know if it will be replaced with something (permanent or not) soon?

Also this is the place where the information staff stand so they have had to relocate to somewhere less visible if it's raining..

Not sure how thought through this has all been?

[IndustryInsider]

Not sure how thought through this has all been?

As with other projects that need the station to remain fully operational whilst major surgery is done on the structure of it, there will no doubt be a little inconvenience to users of the station, especially when the weather isn't great.  Sometimes it doesn't matter how well thought through it is, without spending megabucks it is just necessary to just put up with it for a while.  The same situation occurred at Reading in the early days of the remodelling (particularly on the old Platform 9) and is currently also happening at Burnham whilst the platform canopy is modified there.

Hopefully the level of inconvenience won't be too major, but with a new platform, extended platforms, revised track layout, turnback sidings, modified canopies, and new ticket hall and lifts to construct it's going to resemble a building site for a couple of years I would have thought!

More details about the specific alterations at Maidenhead for Crossrail can be found here:
http://74f85f59f39b887b696f-ab656259048fb93837ecc0ecbcf0c557.r23.cf3.rackcdn.com/assets/library/document/0/original/0002_r_w25maidenheadstnr1.pdf

[NickB]

One thing I've noticed at Maidenhead recently is that Shoppenhangars carpark is getting full more quickly in the morning.  I'd say by maybe 25 cars, prior to 7am.  Is Silco Drive still open?

I know the forecourt has lost a few spaces but this feels more substantial than that.  I first noticed it in May/June time, then it was fine for the school holidays, and now it is worse again.  No chance of parking after 7.30am.

[Red Squirrel]

Having taken a fair chunk of the roof off at Maidenhead (hopefully to be replaced soon) we now can't see what is being displayed on the departures board between platforms 4 and 5 unless it's a very dull day.. Also the coffee kiosk either has to suffer rain coming in the front of it or sun (since the sun is low this time of year) melting anything that can melt on the food on offer..

Do we know if it will be replaced with something (permanent or not) soon?

Also this is the place where the information staff stand so they have had to relocate to somewhere less visible if it's raining..

Not sure how thought through this has all been?

The planning application for the changes to Maidenhead Station is 14/02115/XRL ; you can find this (with a little persistence) on rbwm.gov.uk.

I can't say I find RBWM's planning portal particularly user-friendly!

They certainly plan to put up new canopies, but my search for even a vague nod in the direction of 'heritage' proved fruitless - you may have more luck; sadly all looks pretty utilitarian to me.

[IndustryInsider]

All Crossrail stations are now to become step free:

http://www.constructionenquirer.com/2014/11/19/extra-14m-to-make-all-crossrail-stations-step-free/

Whilst this is undoubtedly good news, I'd rather some of the much larger and busier stations that currently have no disabled access that are not on the Crossrail route were sorted out first, rather than the likes of Iver.