Crossrail - Construction updates and progress towards opening (now expected 24 May 2022)

[Taunton]

The TfL Board papers say Canary Wharf was handed over 21st January

I actually thought that Canary Wharf station was "handed over" years ago, the first such. I notice it's not stated who it is being handed over from.

For example, the accounts of the entity which built the station, Canary Wharf Contractors (Crossrail) Ltd can be seen in their Companies House financial report for 2020 to have been doing essentially nothing, for all that year. Work completed.

CANARY WHARF CONTRACTORS (CROSSRAIL) LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

CANARY WHARF CONTRACTORS (CROSSRAIL) LIMITED - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

and the same for 2019

 

[AM9]

I actually thought that Canary Wharf station was "handed over" years ago, the first such. I notice it's not stated who it is being handed over from.

For example, the accounts of the entity which built the station, Canary Wharf Contractors (Crossrail) Ltd can be seen in their Companies House financial report for 2020 to have been doing essentially nothing, for all that year. Work completed.

CANARY WHARF CONTRACTORS (CROSSRAIL) LIMITED filing history - Find and update company information - GOV.UK

CANARY WHARF CONTRACTORS (CROSSRAIL) LIMITED - Free company information from Companies House including registered office address, filing history, accounts, annual return, officers, charges, business activity

find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk

and the same for 2019

Wasn't it finished promptly by the original contractors as a part of the retail facilities planned for the space, however, on acceptance, TfL realised that it was not up to the required specification for a mass transport installation, (I vaguely remember that the escalators were not considered durable enough being more of department store quality).

 

[stuu]

Yes, that's right. Crossrail awarded a contract to someone else to do it all properly

 

[Taunton]

Wasn't it finished promptly by the original contractors as a part of the retail facilities planned for the space, however, on acceptance, TfL realised that it was not up to the required specification for a mass transport installation, (I vaguely remember that the escalators were not considered durable enough being more of department store quality).

I'm afraid my statement was a bit of a deliberate dig. Because it was indeed finished by the original contractors, stated here, and handed over to Crossrail Limited as client, who of course had agreed all the specification and had supervising engineers overseeing it all. And they signed it off. It was later, after a series of blunders by Crossrail (who of course have been expert in these) that they found they had it wrong. The mechanical equipment installed was of course designed, specified and overseen by professional M&E designers appointed by Crossrail, not the construction contractor, and installed to spec.

Canary Wharf overall were keen to have the station done as an integrated part of their whole development, and not something done in isolation. It's on their land, they contributed £150m to the station cost (ie most of it), and were very entitled to get it all done. Unlike the rest of Crossrail, it was of course completed to the original agreed timetable.

There's a photo somewhere of Terry Morgan, the Crossrail Chairman of the time, well-known expert in announcing completion dates, accepting it from Canary Wharf Contractors. When was that? 2015?

 

[SynthD]

Canary Wharf overall were keen to have the station done as an integrated part of their whole development, and not something done in isolation. It's on their land, they contributed £150m to the station cost (ie most of it), and were very entitled to get it all done.

The £500 million station at Canary Wharf was built by Canary Wharf Group’s own contracting team, with £350 million of the cost coming from the Crossrail project, and £150 million plus any cost overruns being funded by Canary Wharf Group.

Emphasis added. The second quote is from Ianvisits.

I do wonder why the retail quality escalators were signed off on, but as we've heard before, the project had several issues relating to lower level managers not reporting problems up the chain of command.

 

[Taunton]

The £150m is, simplistically, the cost of the building, including its share of the substructure. The remainder of the cost is for the wholly deeper level railway part, the platforms, etc. Of course, it was all built as one. Canary Wharf were also keen not to have a low-spec station in the middle of things again - if you ever go to Canary Wharf and pass from the Canada Place shopping centre, through the Underground concourse, and to the Jubilee Place centre, or go the other way through the DLR concourse, the contrast in standards as you pass through is very noticeable.

Incidentally, regardless of having been handed over on 21 January, looking through the Bostwick gates two days ago into the station area, it's still filled with contractors' plant and access equipment.

 

[dosxuk]

Incidentally, regardless of having been handed over on 21 January, looking through the Bostwick gates two days ago into the station area, it's still filled with contractors' plant and access equipment.

Handed over rarely means complete - it normally means that works have progressed to such a stage that the customer is happy that the remaining building contractor works can be completed under the snagging process. It's also the stage where the customer can start doing their own works to the building, so is often the start of another whole set of contractors & equipment appearing to do minor or specific works that weren't rolled into the general building work.

 

[Taunton]

Handed over rarely means complete - it normally means that works have progressed to such a stage that the customer is happy that the remaining building contractor works can be completed under the snagging process. It's also the stage where the customer can start doing their own works to the building, so is often the start of another whole set of contractors & equipment appearing to do minor or specific works that weren't rolled into the general building work.

It ("practical completion") actually means "capable of beneficial occupation and use". Which doesn't really apply if the entrance is still filled with piles of surplus access equipment.

 

[dosxuk]

It ("practical completion") actually means "capable of beneficial occupation and use". Which doesn't really apply if the entrance is still filled with piles of surplus access equipment.

Again - "capable of" is not the same as "ready for". It means nobody is going to turn up with a JCB and start digging the floor up, or re-opening the roof, not that there won't be some people turn up with a scaff tower to start fitting adverts in the entrance lobby. A pile of access equipment can be moved surprisingly quickly if someone was to unexpectedly announce the station was opening to the public the next day.

And again, the snagging process can continue long after hand over to the customer. On a project of this size I would expect that process could continue for months.

 

[hwl]

Again - "capable of" is not the same as "ready for". It means nobody is going to turn up with a JCB and start digging the floor up, or re-opening the roof, not that there won't be some people turn up with a scaff tower to start fitting adverts in the entrance lobby. A pile of access equipment can be moved surprisingly quickly if someone was to unexpectedly announce the station was opening to the public the next day.

And again, the snagging process can continue long after hand over to the customer. On a project of this size I would expect that process could continue for months.

Yes it is handed over for snagging and testing, (hence the access equipment could be rather useful!) There have been quotes from Crossrail to this effect every time a station is handed over.
Snagging still in progress months later is not a surprise for Crossrail or other large construction projects, it means the customer can start having a better poke at things...

Emphasis added. The second quote is from Ianvisits.

I do wonder why the retail quality escalators were signed off on, but as we've heard before, the project had several issues relating to lower level managers not reporting problems up the chain of command.

They weren't. Canary Wharf were so desperate for their retail space that they started 18months before the general all core stations specification was signed off using their own spec.

Higher ongoing maintenance costs for the station due to cheaper escalators isn't CW problems but paying more for expensive ones int he first place was.

 

[Taunton]

They weren't. Canary Wharf were so desperate for their retail space that they started 18months before the general all core stations specification was signed off using their own spec.

That's just an urban legend. Construction design/specification does not work like that. Besides, the escalators in question do not serve the retail space. They are in the area which is still, in 2022, closed off. They can never have been envisaged for use before the railway opened.

Part of the financial settlement with Canary Wharf Ltd was that they would not comment on any aspect of the fiasco (probably a Terry Marshall and his lawyers idea). You will notice they have not done. I suspect that Canary Wharf Ltd, who are now thoroughly fed up with their investment having been wasted for the last four years, let alone the retail tenants in there who have had to be effectively been given it rent free in that time with minimal footfall, wish that they were relieved of that so they could tell it how it is.

 

[Rob Gibson]

Wonder what level of reliability they are aiming for and if it’s much above 90% is it realistic compared to what’s achieved elsewhere. There’re bound to be incidents in the weeks after opening that the media will gleefully hype out of all proportion, perhaps it would be better to have a “pre-opening public trial” phase from 9am with a warning of possible delays that would spike the media.

 

[Snow1964]

Although Bond Street station opening is now decoupled from opening of rest of line, New Civil Engineer is reporting work to complete is moving ahead quickly and it might yet open at same time as central section. A decision on this is imminent.

Crossrail bosses may wait for Bond Street to be complete before opening Elizabeth line | New Civil Engineer

Sources close to the project have suggested that senior Crossrail figures are now optimistic that Bond Street can be ready for the grand opening of the

www.newcivilengineer.com

 

[Backroom_boy]

Although Bond Street station opening is now decoupled from opening of rest of line, New Civil Engineer is reporting work to complete is moving ahead quickly and it might yet open at same time as central section. A decision on this is imminent.

Crossrail bosses may wait for Bond Street to be complete before opening Elizabeth line | New Civil Engineer

Sources close to the project have suggested that senior Crossrail figures are now optimistic that Bond Street can be ready for the grand opening of the

www.newcivilengineer.com

I would keep Bond Street off the critical path. Maybe this idea was floated to keep focus on the Bond Street work but I think it would be a mistake to add the potential delay of BS back in after all the effort to decouple it and set expectations that it will open later.

 

[Taunton]

I would keep Bond Street off the critical path. Maybe this idea was floated to keep focus on the Bond Street work but I think it would be a mistake to add the potential delay of BS back in after all the effort to decouple it and set expectations that it will open later.

I'm afraid this just sounds like a "here we go again". Put the opening back again, so we can open Bond Street all together with the rest of it. Whatever is the advantage to the travelling public in that? Notably Jacobs, as described in the link, have also said that it would give extra time for testing everything else. Whatever do they now still need extra time to test?

Oh, for a Mayor to say "Get on with it and get the *&^%$ thing open". That's not a one-sided political comment, because both Boris and Ken were notably good at that.

 

[kevin_roche]

Although Bond Street station opening is now decoupled from opening of rest of line, New Civil Engineer is reporting work to complete is moving ahead quickly and it might yet open at same time as central section. A decision on this is imminent.

Crossrail bosses may wait for Bond Street to be complete before opening Elizabeth line | New Civil Engineer

Sources close to the project have suggested that senior Crossrail figures are now optimistic that Bond Street can be ready for the grand opening of the

www.newcivilengineer.com

It also says:

Sources close to the project told NCE that waiting a couple extra months for Bond Street to be complete would also give the project team more time to iron out other issues raised by Jacobs which largely relate to testing of the railway.

Which is very disappointing if they decide on such a delay.

 

[rd749249]

When the train arrives from the turnbacks into Paddington platform A, the system is reconfiguring new headcodes and other data before it releases the doors. This is the extra couple of seconds you’re seeing at Paddington. It only happens at this station and in this direction. I expect a through service from Heathrow won’t see this. Elsewhere, doors generally open as soon as the train comes to a stand.

 

[Taunton]

When the train arrives from the turnbacks into Paddington platform A, the system is reconfiguring new headcodes and other data before it releases the doors. This is the extra couple of seconds you’re seeing at Paddington. It only happens at this station and in this direction. I expect a through service from Heathrow won’t see this. Elsewhere, doors generally open as soon as the train comes to a stand.

You have to wonder what Intern configured it to happen in that sequence.

Actually, if the headcode isn't up before it leaves the turnback, how do the signalling and platform train describer know where it is going.

 

[Acton1991]

When the train arrives from the turnbacks into Paddington platform A, the system is reconfiguring new headcodes and other data before it releases the doors. This is the extra couple of seconds you’re seeing at Paddington. It only happens at this station and in this direction. I expect a through service from Heathrow won’t see this. Elsewhere, doors generally open as soon as the train comes to a stand.

Do all doors open in the central section, and then when the train comes out of the 'core', it goes back to each individual door being opened by the passenger?

 

[iphone76]

Do all doors open in the central section, and then when the train comes out of the 'core', it goes back to each individual door being opened by the passenger?

That's correct, however, at Stratford heading towards Shenfield the doors will also automatically open. I've noticed the doors remain passenger open at the external Custom House and Abbey Wood stations.

 

[rd749249]

Actually, if the headcode isn't up before it leaves the turnback, how do the signalling and platform train describer know where it is going.

All trains leave WBP turnbacks as 3Uxx with destination Paddington onward to ABW. Any other ECS moves are 5x where the second letter seems to denote start/destination of sorts. We seem to have the following at our company:

R=Reading
P=Heathrow / Hayes
C=Gidea Park
V=Ilford
W=Shenfield
U=Abbey Wood
P=Plumstead
Y=Paddington

This is only what I have observed, not what I definitively know.

 

[InOban]

Are they achieving automatic operation to and from the turnback sidings?

 

[JonathanH]

C=Gidea Park

Also Chadwell Heath.

N=Maidenhead

 

[iphone76]

Are they achieving automatic operation to and from the turnback sidings?

Being tested again this Sunday during daylight hours.

 

[kevin_roche]

All trains leave WBP turnbacks as 3Uxx with destination Paddington onward to ABW. Any other ECS moves are 5x where the second letter seems to denote start/destination of sorts. We seem to have the following at our company:

R=Reading
P=Heathrow / Hayes
C=Gidea Park
V=Ilford
W=Shenfield
U=Abbey Wood
P=Plumstead
Y=Paddington

This is only what I have observed, not what I definitively know.

The detail is in the Timetable Planning Rules https://content.tfl.gov.uk/ccos-tpr2022rev1.pdf

First Character Description
9 Passenger trains operating on the Crossrail Central Operating System
3 Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) movements between Paddington (Crossrail) and Westbourne Park; Priority ECS if specially authorised
5 Other ECS
6 Maintenance trains which can run up to 50mph

Second Character Description/ Destination
C To Chadwell Heath or Gidea Park
G Special service identifier (note: not for use in disruption)
N To Maidenhead
P ECS and maintenance trains to Plumstead Infrastructure Maintenance Facility
R To Reading
T To Hayes and Harlington and to Heathrow Airport
U To Abbey Wood via Canary Wharf
V ECS to Ilford Depot
W To Shenfield
Y To Paddington (Elizabeth Line) via Tottenham Court Road, To Old Oak Common and Westbourne Park sidings(incl. ECS and maintenance trains)

--------------------------------

Three new videos on YouTube show the thinking behind the architecture of the stations.

Design & Architecture Overview

Farringdon

Whitechapel

 

[Acton1991]

The detail is in the Timetable Planning Rules https://content.tfl.gov.uk/ccos-tpr2022rev1.pdf

First Character Description
9 Passenger trains operating on the Crossrail Central Operating System
3 Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) movements between Paddington (Crossrail) and Westbourne Park; Priority ECS if specially authorised
5 Other ECS
6 Maintenance trains which can run up to 50mph

Second Character Description/ Destination
C To Chadwell Heath or Gidea Park
G Special service identifier (note: not for use in disruption)
N To Maidenhead
P ECS and maintenance trains to Plumstead Infrastructure Maintenance Facility
R To Reading
T To Hayes and Harlington and to Heathrow Airport
U To Abbey Wood via Canary Wharf
V ECS to Ilford Depot
W To Shenfield
Y To Paddington (Elizabeth Line) via Tottenham Court Road, To Old Oak Common and Westbourne Park sidings(incl. ECS and maintenance trains)

--------------------------------

Three new videos on YouTube show the thinking behind the architecture of the stations.

Design & Architecture Overview

Farringdon

Whitechapel

Found these design videos really interesting - it really is going to be a beautiful railway that will be lovely to travel on.

One thing he forgets to mention is that some stations in the west (as well as Shenfield) have limited Elizabeth line branding, due to them being managed by other operators. I wonder if this will change post-GBR?

 

[Horizon22]

Found these design videos really interesting - it really is going to be a beautiful railway that will be lovely to travel on.

One thing he forgets to mention is that some stations in the west (as well as Shenfield) have limited Elizabeth line branding, due to them being managed by other operators. I wonder if this will change post-GBR?

Who knows - Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford are all GWR managed primarily due to the branches. Whether GBR will have any say in this management of stations is quite the unknown.

 

[mr_moo]

Trial running details for this Sunday. Relevant extracts from a notice to staff:

Sunday 30th January 2022 – Timetable Demonstration For Close Headway Running

The Elizabeth line is eventually planned to run a 24 trains per hour (tph) timetable, a big
increase on today’s 12tph. On the above Sunday we are running a timetable to gather
information on how the service operates at a much closer headway. 10tph will run between
Westbourne Park and Abbey Wood and 8tph between Westbourne Park and Stratford platform 5
and 8. Trains will operate at a 2.5 minute headway west of Whitechapel.

During this timetable demonstration RFLI will be using the auto reverse function between
Paddington (Low Level) and Westbourne Park Turnback Sidings between 09:30 and 15:30
(daylight hours).

Key Information
• Auto reverse will be in use during daylight hours between Paddington and Westbourne Park, to
speed up turnaround times.
• Expect to see increased traffic flows across the Elizabeth line interface at Pudding Mill Lane in
both Eastbound and Westbound directions.
• Trains will transition automatically in both directions
• The timetable will run in ARS conditions.

 

[Bald Rick]

Wonder what level of reliability they are aiming for and if it’s much above 90% is it realistic compared to what’s achieved elsewhere. There’re bound to be incidents in the weeks after opening that the media will gleefully hype out of all proportion, perhaps it would be better to have a “pre-opening public trial” phase from 9am with a warning of possible delays that would spike the media.

much better than 90%. Although ‘teething troubles’ could of course suppress that.

Are they achieving automatic operation to and from the turnback sidings?

to, from, but not to and from in one go.

 

[iphone76]

I wonder if they will manage the Stratford testing to the plan this weekend as the set of points between the down and up electric line which allows access to platform 5 at Stratford still appear to be out of use.