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Platform promise for Peterborough

Andy-Milne
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More platforms and a new ticket hall feature in a £43m plan to upgrade Peterborough station.

The redevelopment heralds longer, more frequent trains and anticipates a surge in passenger volume. Four million people a year use the station and this number is expected to double over the next 25 years.

Says Phil Verster, Network Rail route managing director, ‘We are making a significant investment to improve the railway in Peterborough, providing a better station and more trains for passengers. Rail is vital for Peterborough given its position as a strategic transport hub and this upgrade will provide a real boost to the local economy.

‘When we’re finished in December 2013 the station will have a modern main building, extra platforms to increase capacity and reduce congestion, easier access thanks to new lifts and longer platforms ready for new, longer trains serving more destinations.’

Peterborough is a major railway centre and hosts a complex mix of commuter and long-distance services travelling both east-west and north-south as well as burgeoning freight traffic – the station itself has two freight passing loops.

Network Rail’s redevelopment will increase capacity through the station, with two new platforms constructed on the west side of the station for use by trains travelling on east-west routes, freeing up the existing platforms for north-south services.

The current platform 3 will also be widened and a new platform added for future London-bound high-speed services from Peterborough.

In addition to the new platforms, platforms 2 and 3 will be extended to facilitate future 12-car Thameslink services, which will provide direct connections from Peterborough to London and destinations across the South East.

Platforms 4 and 5 will be extended for future Intercity Express services, which will provide new trains on long-distance routes to the north of England and Scotland.

A new goods loop will also be created to the west of the station to increase freight capacity on the key cross-country route from the port of Felixstowe to the Midlands and beyond. A separate £3m scheme will provide a brighter, bigger entrance and a larger concourse at the station.

Olympic gateway for Calais

Andy-Milne
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A giant set of Olympic Rings has been unveiled on the entrance to the Channel Tunnel at Coquelles near Calais.

The tunnel itself and High Speed One will be one of the main gateways to the London 2012 Games. Athletes anxious to avoid the twin traumas of air travel and motoring are expected to catch the train.

The rings have been put up by Eurotunnel working with the French National Olympic Committee.

Says Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, ‘As the starting line for 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games fast approaches we want to say loud and clear to all our European neighbours that London is the only place to be next summer.

‘Whether you’re heading to the Olympic Park to watch some amazing sport, soaking up the best cultural events the city has to offer or coming to revel in the atmosphere at our Live Sites there is something for everyone to enjoy.’

Rail is poised to play a central supporting role in the 2012 London Olympics.

Wise men follow Electrostar

Andy-Milne
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The future for Bombardier’s Litchurch Lane works looks brighter this year after it secured an additional order for 130 Electrostar cars for Southern.

The new trains will beef up Southern’s existing fleet and the contract is valued at £189 million.

‘We are delighted to be awarded this contract by Southern. This is a significant project which emphasises the performance of Bombardier’s products in the UK,’ said Paul Roberts of Bombardier Transportation UK.

‘These vehicles have a proven track record for their excellent reliability and environmental performance which will now benefit many additional passengers in London and the South East. The new trains will be manufactured in the UK with initial production commencing in the latter half of 2012.’

Bombardier Transportation has people at production facilities in Derby and Plymouth and 15 maintenance and overhaul centres across Britain.

Tram extension for Nottingham

Andy-Milne
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Nottingham’s tram network is set to double in size with a similar boost to the tram fleet after funding was agreed.

Work on the five mile extension to Clifton and the six mile route to Beeston starts soon. The new services should be running by 2014.

Tramlink Nottingham has taken over the running of the railway on 16th December and will be responsible for building the new lines.

The consortium includes Vinci Investments, Alstom, Keolis, Wellgrade, Meridiam and OFI Infravia. The DfT will contribute £371 million of the £570 million needed to complete the scheme.

Nottingham City Council plans to raise most of the rest through the Workplace Parking Levy, a scheme that charges employers based in the city a fee for providing 11 or more car parking places for employees.

The 22 new Citadis trams will complement the 15 Incentro trams already in service.

Says transport minister Norman Baker, ‘I am delighted that we are able to finally approve funding so that construction of Phase Two of the tram system can begin. Line One of the Nottingham tram has proved to be a great success in encouraging people onto public transport.

‘These extensions provide the opportunity to build on that success, and give people in the south of Nottingham quicker, more convenient access to the city centre as well as providing an alternative means of accessing the city centre for people commuting by car.’

Advanced works including utility diversions start over the next few weeks with the main tramway construction starting in March.

Forth Bridge paint complete

Andy-Milne
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Network Rail’s ten year, £130m painting and refurbishment of the Forth Bridge is complete.

For the first time there are no decorators working on the bridge. With the scaffolding which has encased the bridge for over a decade now removed, the 125-year-old structure will not need a full paint job for at least 20 years.

The project involved caging the bridge in 4,000 tonnes of scaffolding, painting over 230,000 square metres of steel and all 6.5 million rivets in the structure.

Says David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, ‘Our staff and contractors can take real pride in their achievements on this project, not least in the fact that through their efforts this amazing structure will remain free of major maintenance work for at least two decades.’

Traditionally painters started at one end of the bridge, worked across it and then painted back.

Says Marshall Scott, Managing Director of Balfour Beatty Regional Civil Engineering, ‘Balfour Beatty is immensely proud to have successfully delivered the programme to refurbish the Forth Bridge over the past decade.

‘It is a testament to the skill and commitment of the project team, and the subcontractors and suppliers, involved in this significant and complex programme of works that the iconic Forth Bridge has been returned to its original condition.’

In the years ahead, a small team of specialists and engineers will continue to monitor and maintain the bridge.

 

Naming boring machines

Andy-Milne
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Crossrail has launched a competition seeking names for six of its giant tunnel boring machines.

The TBMs will be constructing the new rail tunnels under London. Londoners and people living along the Crossrail route have been asked to propose pairs of names for the machines. The winning entries will be painted onto the tunnel boring machines.

This spring, the first two 140 metre long TBMs weighing 1,000 tonnes will burrow four miles east from Royal Oak via Paddington, Bond Street and Tottenham Court Road before reaching Farringdon in summer 2013.

Later this year, the second pair of machines will launch from Limmo in Docklands driving 5.2 miles west towards Farringdon via Whitechapel and Liverpool Street.

In the winter, two TBMs will be launched from Plumstead tunnelling 1.6 miles and under the River Thames to North Woolwich.

A Crossrail panel will select a shortlist before the public is invited to vote online for their favourite pairs of names in February. Prizes will be awarded to the three entrants who receive the most votes.

Winners will receive either Eurostar vouchers or an annual family pass to Merlin Theme Parks and will be invited to attend the tunnelling launch event at Royal Oak Portal.

Pan up for Voyagers

Andy-Milne
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The DfT is to look in more detail at a scheme to convert the Bombardier built CrossCountry Voyager fleet to hybrid operation, by inserting a pantograph-carrying carriage.

The e-Voyager project would provide more work for Bombardier’s Derby workforce.

Transport Minister, Justine Greening, has asked the department to check out costs and described herself as enthusiastic about the project.

Large parts of the CrossCountry network, such as Devon and Cornwall, will not be electrified in the medium term. However a number of CrossCountry journeys, such as those between Birmingham and the north-west, are made entirely along electrified routes.

Says Paul Roberts, president of Bombardier Transportation in the UK, ‘It is encouraging news from Ms Greening on her plans for the eVoyager project, where we hope a contractual agreement can be reached in the first quarter of 2012.’

Translink ticks m-ticketing

Andy-Milne
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Rail passengers in Northern Ireland can now use Translink’s new mobile phone ticketing system, mLink.

Passengers can buy, receive and display an electronic ticket on their mobile phone doing away with the need for a paper ticket.

Says Catherine Mason, Translink Group Chief Executive, ‘With Northern Ireland having the highest mobile phone penetration in the UK at 92 per cent and almost one quarter of people using smart phones, we are confident that mLink will soon prove to be the preferred option for train travel.’

Trapeze Group (UK) Ltd helped Translink develop the scheme.

Make a date for MacroRail

Andy-Milne
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Rail Alliance’s MacroRail 2012 will be held on the 12 and 13 September.

The Rail Alliance is building on the success of last year’s event where 60+ exhibitors pioneered the idea.

The aim this year is to have 100 exhibiting companies with plenty of outside exhibitors carrying out demonstrations.

So, reserve space in your diary for the second week in September to come and visit Macrorail 2012 at our Long Marston headquarters.

For member companies wishing to exhibit, they can reserve a standard 3m x 3m exhibition space for £300 plus VAT (roughly the cost of 1m x 1m space at a ‘standard’ rail exhibition!).

For more information please contact: robert.hopkin@rail­alliance.co.uk.

Positive news for 2012

Andy-Milne
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As 2012 arrives and both the Euro crises and the recession continue, our good fortune is to be in an industry that is still spending money and attracting investment.

High Speed Two is headline news but Rail Alliance members will benefit from a plethora of positive developments.

In his Autumn Statement, Chancellor George Osborne underlined the government’s continued belief in the recession busting role of the railways by confirming £1.4 billion of investment as part of the economy revitalising national infrastructure plan, the Rail Alliance’s Rail Industry Liaison Manager Neil Stevens reports.

Projects included the £290 million electrification between Manchester, Leeds and the ECML. Another beneficiary was the Oxford – Bedford railway, where £270 million will open the western section of the Oxford – Cambridge ‘Varsity Line,’ as a 100mph mixed traffic route.

Tyne and Wear Metro

With Chiltern Railway’s previously confirmed upgrade of the Bicester – Oxford section of this route, the funding will link fast-expanding Milton Keynes with Bedford, London Marylebone, Oxford and Reading.

Additionally the Chancellor confirmed a further £390 million for station improvements, £290m for bridge renewals, £4m to upgrade the Tyne and Wear Metro, £45m on extending the Oyster scheme in London and £290 million to limit the planned January 2012 fare rises to 1% above inflation rather than the 3% originally proposed.

At the same time the Chancellor backed the extension of the Charing Cross branch of the Northern Line through to Battersea, including two new stations at Battersea and Nine Elms.

Bombardier

There’s good news for rolling stock with the announcement of £80 million support for Southern’s acquisition of 130 new Class 377 Electrostar vehicles. These will supplement Southern’s existing fleet and provide a timely boost to the fortunes of Derby train builder Bombardier.

Rail freight has also fared well with Government commitment to modal shift and rail freight reinforced with the publication of the DfT’s Logistics Growth Review. Welcomed by developers of major inland rail terminals the Policy Guidance on Strategic Rail Freight Interchanges will help them negotiate the ever burdensome planning process.

Freight

The review also sanctions Network Rail to invest a further £55 million in the development of the Strategic Freight Network. This work includes track doubling between Ely and Soham eliminating a major bottleneck on the Felixstowe – Nuneaton corridor.

Other works include the gauge clearance of additional routes in the midlands to allow the passage of 9ft 6 containers, support for new services from both Felixstowe and Southampton ports and improvements to the 24 hour availability of the network by enabling diversionary routes to be available.

Direct Rail Services has announced the placing of an order with Vossloh España for the supply of a new fleet of 3750 hp, diesel-electric locomotives expected to become UK Class 68s. All of this backs up optimistic forecasts predicting a doubling of rail freight volumes by 2030.

2012 looks like being a good, positive year as the renaissance of Britain’s rail network continues.

 

EGIP spring

Andy-Milne
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Network Rail in Scotland has placed £55m-worth of contracts as the Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme powers up.

Morgan Sindall will construct a new £25m station at Haymarket in Edinburgh, to create a fully accessible station as well as an integrated train, tram, bus and taxi transport hub.

BamNuttall will be working on railway structures around the central belt in a £27m project and Carillion will deliver a range of track alterations in a deal worth £3m. The contracts, all of which will see work commence in 2012, form part of the £1bn EGIP scheme.

The Edinburgh Glasgow Improvement Programme will see the electrification of 220 miles of the existing rail network in the central belt, including the main Edinburgh Waverley-Glasgow Queen Street line. The project is being funded by the Scottish Government.

Says David Simpson, Network Rail route managing director for Scotland, ‘The investment announced today will transform Haymarket, delivering a facility which will better serve customers and offer the city as a whole a station it can be proud of.

‘The track and bridgeworks contracts we have awarded also mean that preparations are well under way to deliver the electrification of rail lines in the central belt, which will cut journey times and increase capacity on key routes into Scotland’s two biggest cities.’

Haymarket is Scotland’s fourth busiest station and handles four million passenger journeys a year. This is predicted to soar to 10m by 2025.

Work at Haymarket includes refurbishment and the construction of a new modern concourse to the west of the existing building as well as a new access bridge and a spruce up for the platform canopies.

 

Operation Tornado blows thieves off track

Andy-Milne
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A new trial scheme aimed at combating metal theft has been launched in the north east.

Operation Tornado requires anyone selling scrap metal to participating dealers in Northumbria, County Durham and Cleveland to provide proof of identity via a photo card. The trial will last for six months.

Lord Henley, Minister for Crime Prevention and Anti-Social Behaviour Reduction, launched the scheme at the metal recycling centre in Shildon, Co. Durham.

Cable theft remains a serious problem in the railway and rail chiefs will be watching the scheme closely.

Crossing closures

Andy-Milne
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Network Rail says it has now closed 500 level crossings in Britain since April 2009.

The company intends to close a further 250 by 31 March 2014. Many of these are user-worked crossings often connecting private land and are not public rights of way. Located in rural areas, many cross busy main lines.

The barriers or gates need to be operated by the person crossing and not the railway. Warning measures include miniature warning lights, signs or telephones.

In many cases an alternative access for the user is either available or has been provided to secure closure.

Says Robin Gisby, managing director for network operations for Network Rail, ‘In closing these 500 crossings we have removed the risk of a vehicle or person being struck by a train at these locations and improved safety across the network for everyone working or travelling by rail. While this is good progress, there is much more to be done.

‘We aim to close a further 250 by April 2014 and we will work to further improve other crossings across the network and continue to raise awareness of the dangers of misuse.

‘Closing a level crossing is not always an easy process, and we often need the support of land owners, local authorities and users. I hope we can count on their continued support.’

Ops manager awarded MBE

Andy-Milne
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A former Northern Rail manager, who dedicated fifty years to the railway industry, has received an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours List.

Phil Thickett, 65 of Darlington, was recognised for services to the railway industry. He began his career as an apprentice in 1961 and worked his way up to become Northern’s Area Operations Manager, where he managed more than 700 staff and more than 1,200 trains every day across Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, until his retirement last May.

Phil was recognised for his long term commitment to the railway and his willingness to help others, both inside and outside the industry.

He has mentored many school children, on a voluntary basis, on work experience schemes. In addition he has been involved with many projects and charity events.

Says Phil, ‘I couldn’t believe it when I was told the news about the MBE. I have seen many changes to the railway industry over the last fifty years and for me it was about embracing those changes and providing a service for thousands of people every day.’

Phil was praised for encouraging staff. Says Ian Bevan, Managing Director of Northern Rail, ‘We are proud of Phil and delighted he has received this fantastic honour. He has helped develop so many of our employees, in both their daily duties and further education aspirations and is a true ambassador for Northern Rail and the whole rail industry.

‘Phil’s kind and unassuming nature has a positive effect on everyone he comes into contact with and makes him a pleasure to work alongside.’ Phil is married with two children.

Navigation progress at Birmingham

Andy-Milne
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0

Birmingham New Street station’s Gateway project took a visible step forward over Christmas with the removal of part of the Navigation Street footbridge.

A new section of footbridge was lifted neatly into place. When the extended bridge opens at the end of 2012, it will provide access to Platform 12 for the first time and create a new station entrance on Hill Street.

Says Geoff Inskip, chief executive of Centro, ‘Whilst a lot of the work so far has not been visible to passengers, the installation of this new bridge clearly shows the excellent progress being made towards delivering a bigger, brighter and visually stunning New Street Station – a world class facility the whole West Midlands can be proud of.’

Prior to the bridge lift the old platform 12 bay platform had to be closed and the track covered. Since the ending of parcel traffic at Birmingham New Street there has been no need to stable an 08 shunter and the platform had become redundant.

Working from Christmas Day through to 27 December, engineers used a 700 tonne crane to do the job.

The Gateway project should be completed in 2015. Natural light will flood across the concourse. More lifts and escalators will help speed passengers on their way.

Says Chris Montgomery, Network Rail project director, ‘The work we have completed over the Christmas break represents a major step forward in our exciting plans to rebuild Birmingham New Street for the thousands of passengers who use it every day.

‘Undertaking projects on this scale in the heart of Birmingham city centre represents a huge logistical challenge and we planned the work carefully to minimise disruption to passengers and Christmas shoppers visiting the city centre.’

Better facilities for rail staff are an essential part of the scheme. Over the Christmas break new train crew accommodation was built above Platform 1.

Other major works included the construction of a tower crane outside the front of the station. The crane will be used throughout 2012 to construct the new public square opposite the Bullring.

The old Pallasades link bridge and escalator above Station Street was removed along with other redundant structures. The first half of the new station concourse is expected to open in time for next Christmas. The project itself should be complete in 2015.

Olympian role for Andrew

Andy-Milne
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Andrew Williams has been appointed c2c’s new Olympics Project Manager.

He will be liaising with Network Rail, Transport for London, ODA, LOCOG and the British Transport Police as c2c prepares for the London Olympics. c2c serves West Ham station, which is one of the official gateways to the Olympic Park and Excel venues for the Games.

c2c’s Leigh-on-Sea station is the official station for those arriving by rail for the BMX events at Hadleigh. Andrew joined the railway as part of the National Express Graduate Training Scheme in 2008.

He worked for National Express East Anglia and spent 8 months as a c2c Assistant Group Station Manager.

At the conclusion of the scheme he took up a permanent position as Duty Station Manager for NXEA at Stratford, before moving to Chiltern Railways as Performance Planning and Project Manager.

Says Julian Drury, c2c’s Managing Director, ‘The London Games are extremely important for c2c and our customers and Andy will be working in partnership with the c2c team and our stakeholders to ensure that everyone travelling by train on our network during Games time has an enjoyable experience.’

Taylor-Made

Andy-Milne
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Jim Taylor’s new year gets off to a good start with an internal promotion to the board.

Jim, the divisional manager of NRL Rail, has been appointed a director with effect from 1st January 2012. He has been with NRL Ltd since 1994 and was the driving force behind the establishment of the Rail Division in 2001.

Under his guidance, the division has achieved Link-Up accreditation in over 140 product categories and has earned significant contracts with Network Rail, Story Rail and Balfour Beatty Rail.

Says Jim, ‘I am delighted to be made a director at NRL. Our rail business has gone from strength to strength and I look forward to developing the Rail division further, with the help of an excellent team.’

Mike Barber, managing director of NRL Ltd, says, ‘Jim has worked tirelessly over the last few years to build and develop our Rail Division and with the support and hard work of his loyal team he has created a fantastic business unit.

‘The team has, under Jim’s leadership, delivered consistently good financial results throughout 2011 whilst at the same time diversifying its supply capability.

‘There is already a strong order book and pipeline for 2012 and we are confident that the ongoing success of the Rail division will continue to contribute significantly to the NRL Group’s performance.’

NRL Rail operates from offices in Grangemouth, Scotland where Jim is based and Wigan in Greater Manchester.

Tipping the Scales

Andy-Milne
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Neil Scales is quitting his job as chief executive of Merseytravel and heading for Australia and a new career as ceo of TransLink, the public transport authority in Brisbane, Queensland.

Mr Scales has spent 15 years at Merseytravel and takes up his new post in March.

‘It was a hard decision to make and one I spent some considerable time agonising over but I have received an offer which was too difficult to refuse,’ says Neil.

‘For me this is a challenge to make a real difference on the other side of the world and an opportunity of a once-in-a lifetime experience ‘down under.’

In a message to staff he said, ‘There is much I will miss, in particular the tremendous support I have received from you all during my time here. I truly thank you for your loyalty and hard work and wish you all every success in the future.’

Born in Sunderland, County Durham in 1956 Neil Scales studied at Southmoor Technical School and played rugby for Durham Schools. Leaving school at 16 he took an engineering apprenticeship with Sunderland Corporation Transport.

He continued his studies at Sunderland Polytechnic, eventually gaining an MSc in Control Engineering and Computing Systems and an MBA at the Open University.

He even became a part-time associate lecturer with the Open University and is proud of a pass-rate of over 90 percent for his students.

Before joining Merseytravel Neil was an independent transport and engineering consultant working for the World Bank on projects across Europe.

After his apprenticeship, he first worked for Tyne and Wear Passenger Transport Executive before becoming Director of Engineering and Purchasing at Greater Manchester Buses, and then Managing Director of Northern Counties Ltd in 1990.

In 1997, he was appointed Director of Customer Services, Merseytravel, two years later becoming the Chief Executive and Director General.

He is credited with completely reversing the fortunes of Merseytravel which is now recognised as one of the best transport authorities in Britain. Merseyrail is one of the best performing rail networks in Britain.

 

Top cop awarded QPM

Andy-Milne
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British Transport Police Federation Chairman, Inspector Alex Robertson, has been awarded the Queen’s Police Medal in the New Year’s Honours List.

Alex Robertson, from Glasgow, joined BTP in 1978 and became Chairman of the BTP Federation in 1999. Alex has had a distinguished 33-year police career.

He was Scottish Area Secretary within the BTPF and then Assistant General Secretary in 1995, and has been an expert voice on transport policing issues, from the day-to-day realities of crime and disorder to the long term terrorist threats to the rail network.

Alex has also taken an active part in EuroCop, the European Confederation of Police, which deals with issues such as cross-border cooperation, as well as the Police Dependants’ Trust and the National Police Memorial Day.

He holds the Police Good Conduct and Long Service Medal, the Queen’s Golden Jubilee Medal and, for his Army service in Northern Ireland, the General Service Medal.

Says Inspector Robertson, ‘I am absolutely delighted and thrilled, as are my family. It is a really humbling experience.’

Dinner date for Young Railway Professionals

Andy-Milne
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Dinner date for Young Railway Professionals

The Young Railway Professionals will be holding their third Annual Black Tie Dinner on Thursday, 2nd February 2012 in London.

The event provides a unique forum for young people working in the rail industry to meet with their peers, be inspired and have a great time. The Young Railway Professionals is keen to ensure that everyone across all disciplines is given the opportunity to meet their contemporaries in style.

Held in central London, guests will enjoy a networking drinks reception before sitting down to a three course meal and entertainment. Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of First Great Western will be following in the footsteps of Chris Mole and Pete Waterman as he takes to the stage as the after dinner speaker, championing interdisciplinary working and railway apprenticeships.

Representatives from the Railway Children charity will be on hand to oversee a raffle stuffed with generously donated prizes from across the industry. For more information, or to book a ticket visit: www.youngrailwayprofessionals.org

Rail estate bonus

Andy-Milne
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Rail estate bonus

Railway stations are good for business, the community and commerce.

Investing in them boosts urban regeneration, drives up employment levels and increases property values by up to 30 per cent, says a study commissioned by Network Rail. The report, by Steer Davies Gleave, confirms that station investment can have a major impact on urban regeneration within the surrounding area, stimulate development, and increase economic activity and employment levels.

Says David Biggs, Network Rail director of property, ‘This report confirms that investing in stations not only delivers improvements for passengers, but also boosts economic activity and leads to further investment in the local economy. The continued growth in passenger numbers has allowed Network Rail to attract partners to regenerate the areas around major transport hubs.

‘Birmingham New Street is a great example; we are delivering a radically new station gateway in partnership with the council and John Lewis, transforming the south side of Birmingham city centre.’ It’s official – railway stations can act as catalysts for wider regeneration.

Australian win for Unipart

Andy-Milne
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Australian win for Unipart

Unipart Rail has won a big contract in Australia.

Together with partner UGL Limited, Unipart Rail will be providing fleet maintenance and logistics services for RailCorp in Sydney. The contract is expected to generate £900 million in revenue over the initial seven years. A joint venture company has been established between Unipart Rail and UGL to deliver the scope of works under the contract.

Says John Clayton of Unipart Rail, ‘This contract sees us joining our established supply chain and ‘Lean’ expertise with UGL’s proven maintenance and engineering skills, to deliver significant operational and financial benefits to RailCorp in Sydney. We very much look forward to delivering success with our joint venture partner, UGL.’

Says Rob Mason, chief executive of RailCorp, ‘The contract with UGL and Unipart Rail will play a key role in RailCorp’s commitment to deliver safe, clean and reliable passenger services, while delivering value for money to the taxpayers of NSW.’

 

Numbers soar on HS1

Andy-Milne
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Numbers soar on HS1

The second anniversary of the start of domestic passenger services on High Speed One has seen passenger numbers powering ahead.

More services are being introduced to meet demand. Local people want more. Says Charles Horton, managing director, Southeastern, ‘This year we have responded to passenger and stakeholder needs and have introduced new services from Maidstone West, Sandwich and Deal and we are grateful for the support of Kent County Council, local MPs and other stakeholders in making this possible.

‘The service continues to prove popular with 89 per cent of passengers telling the independent Passenger Focus satisfaction survey they think it is good or very good.’ In the second year of operation Southeastern has recorded an additional million passenger journeys compared to the first year of operation, now totalling 8.2 million.

March debut for Rail Tunnel Machine

Andy-Milne
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March debut for Rail Tunnel Machine

Crossrail has unveiled the first of eight 1,000 tonne, tunnel boring machines (TBM) that will burrow under London excavating the tunnels for the new west to east rail link.

The 140 metre long, fully assembled tunnel boring machine is currently undergoing factory testing in Germany. The machine will then be dismantled and shipped to London where it will be re-assembled at Westbourne Park. Tunnelling should commence from Royal Oak in March.

Eight tunnel boring machines will be used to drill 13 miles of twin-bore tunnels. The TBMs will undertake ten individual tunnel drives as they excavate the 6.2 metre diameter tunnels. Building Crossrail is a round-the-clock operation and the TBMs will run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week stopping only for scheduled maintenance.

As the TBMs advance forward, precast concrete segments will be built in rings behind the TBMs. Construction of the concrete segment factory for the western running tunnels between Royal Oak and Farringdon is now complete at Old Oak Common. The plant will begin manufacturing over 70,000 segments for the western tunnels from January.

Says Chris Dulake, Crossrail’s Chief Engineer, ‘Crossrail tunnelling will get underway in March 2012 when the first of eight tunnel boring machines will begin burrowing below the streets of London. Work is continuing across the Crossrail route to prepare for construction of the major new rail tunnels.

‘The new Tunnelling and Underground Construction Academy has welcomed its first students and will train at least 3,500 people with the skills required to work below ground while the first of the tunnel segment manufacturing plants will shortly commence full operations.’

The eight Crossrail TBMs are being manufactured by Herrenknecht AG, Germany which also manufactured tunnel boring machines for the Jubilee Line Extension and the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) Extension to Bank.

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