East-West Rail (EWR): Consultation updates [not speculation]

[The Planner]

Is there a risk the re-alignment could be descoped as part of an HS2 cost saving exercise, and thus the line closed, with freight to Calvert being redirected?

It wouldn't save enough to make the smallest of dents. It would also make a chunk of E-W redundant from the start with a double junction laying un-used.

 

[DelW]

Four photos of progress with the Bletchley flyover rebuild on a Twitter post here:

https://twitter.com/Marshrail/status/1372620765032554496/photo/1

Does it look as if the concrete wall units are hollow, presumably they get filled with a continuous concrete pour once up to full height?

The precast system in use here (and at Launton) seems to be one that has been developed by Laing O'Rourke for Highways England, which is described here (scroll down to "Modular Abutments"):

Digitally enabled modular bridges - Rail Engineer

Listen to this article Build, build, build! – heartening words for construction. Better, greener, faster – the imperatives for the industry. But what remains unspoken is the poor past-performance of the sector. Since the mid-1990s, the productivity of manufacturing has improved by 50 per cent...

www.railengineer.co.uk

Essentially the precast "boxes" are permanent formwork for insitu concrete poured within them.

Modular abutments
Recognising that standardised precast deck beams have been used for decades, the focus of this work has been a modular system for abutments, wing-walls and piers. It is based on precast shell units that are two metres high, 1.75 metres deep and form a two-metre horizontal grid. The units can be stacked to create the required height of abutment or wall, with matching sloping L-wall units to form wing-walls.
A challenge for off-site construction is forming the connections between prefabricated units, particularly given the high forces present in bridges. The shell system provides a relatively thin precast wall around internal voids, and delivers a high-quality factory-formed finish. The structural strength is provided by in-situ concrete poured within the voids.

 

[swt_passenger]

The precast system in use here (and at Launton) seems to be one that has been developed by Laing O'Rourke for Highways England, which is described here (scroll down to "Modular Abutments"):

Digitally enabled modular bridges - Rail Engineer

Listen to this article Build, build, build! – heartening words for construction. Better, greener, faster – the imperatives for the industry. But what remains unspoken is the poor past-performance of the sector. Since the mid-1990s, the productivity of manufacturing has improved by 50 per cent...

www.railengineer.co.uk

Essentially the precast "boxes" are permanent formwork for insitu concrete poured within them.

Brilliant - thanks for finding that detail. I suppose as in the article a real advantage of it is that the exterior finish to the visible blocks is of a repeatable factory made quality - and highly accurate sizes.

 

[DelW]

Brilliant - thanks for finding that detail. I suppose as in the article a real advantage of it is that the exterior finish to the visible blocks is of a repeatable factory made quality - and highly accurate sizes.

That's certainly an advantage, plus moving a proportion of the work indoors should reduce the likelihood of weather delays. I'm not surprised it's Laing O'Rourke involved, since factory-based construction has been one of Ray O'Rourke's objectives for years.

 

[edwin_m]

That's certainly an advantage, plus moving a proportion of the work indoors should reduce the likelihood of weather delays. I'm not surprised it's Laing O'Rourke involved, since factory-based construction has been one of Ray O'Rourke's objectives for years.

They did all the platforms for Metrolink Phase 3 that way.

 

[alexx]

Some updates from Bicester: everything's looking quite a bit different in Charbridge Lane - the cranes have gone, as have the concrete posts it seems. The Jarvis Lane footbridge also appears to have made an appearance in the past few days.

Facing towards Bicester Village. The Jarvis Lane bridge can be seen in the distance.

Attach files

And then towards Bletchley:

 

[swt_passenger]

Some updates from Bicester: everything's looking quite a bit different in Charbridge Lane - the cranes have gone, as have the concrete posts it seems. The Jarvis Lane footbridge also appears to have made an appearance in the past few days.

Facing towa

Well, it’s quite intriguing how those concrete piles have now gone. Whatever they were for, at least the problem suggested in post #4756 is no longer there...

 

[ironstone11]

Well, it’s quite intriguing how those concrete piles have now gone. Whatever they were for, at least the problem suggested in post #4756 is no longer there...

The 'concrete piles' were steel tubes which were to prevent the bored holes for the piles falling in. As the holes are filled with concrete the tubes are pulled out and at the same time the reinforcing cage is lowered into the hole. They are not always used for this type of piling. It depends on ground conditions and water ingress.

 

[swt_passenger]

The 'concrete piles' were steel tubes which were to prevent the bored holes for the piles falling in. As the holes are filled with concrete the tubes are pulled out and at the same time the reinforcing cage is lowered into the hole. They are not always used for this type of piling. It depends on ground conditions and water ingress.

Oh right, I think I’ve seen those in use somewhere before, so as they’re made of sections having part of the tubes sticking out of the ground at certain stages will be quite normal practice.

The original photo was removed but at the time they did look rather like concrete.

 

[Trainee9]

Interesting posts above about the concrete shell units and the steel tubes used for lining pile holes. I think I saw the large steel tubes being used at the piling for replacement piers at the Bletchley viaduct site.
Yesterday I had an informative conversation with an engineer just outside the Water Eaton worksite. A large yellow crane was on site and unloading long precast concrete beams from road trucks. A wall of concrete shell units has been erected on the west side of the tracks, part of the new box unit. This side is complete asides from sill beams and waterproofing, and work on the east side, in a more confined area, should start today (23 March). When the other wall is complete, some of the concrete beams will be placed across and the electric cables will be clipped to the undersides. The steel overhead line gantries will then be removed and the rest of the beams placed in position. The Twitter post linked above shows that the wall is curved, but this is not evident from a distance. The wall can be seen above the white fence in the attached photo (taken on 20th Mar)

.
Shell units will also be used to build three or so replacement piers.
I also found some pictures via the Twitter link a few posts above, showing what is happening at Pier 30 and Pier 17. This work is entirely invisible from outside the site. I wondered what was going on atop the embankment by the Buckingham Road. You may need to scroll down a bit.
https://twitter.com/LittleHKiwi

 

[work-traveller]

EWR2 progress - this time new deck installation at Little Horwood Road, east of Winslow.

Original


New

 

[ironstone11]

EWR2 progress - this time new deck installation at Little Horwood Road, east of Winslow.

Original
View attachment 93341

New
View attachment 93342
View attachment 93343
View attachment 93344

Great pictures. Please keep them coming along the route if possible.

 

[swt_passenger]

Couple of relatively new videos on youtube, I think the second one covers the same bridge as the recent photos:

 

[Clayton]

You’ve got to say, this is really exciting! A new through route on the bed of a Beeching era closure - and one in Devon too! Can’t wait to gave a go on them. Along with HS2 they do demonstrate faith in the future of rail.

 

[mr_jrt]

Anyone know why the new decks in that are slightly inclined?

 

[snowball]

Anyone know why the new decks in that are slightly inclined?

Because the railway is on a curve and therefore canted.

 

[work-traveller]

You’ve got to say, this is really exciting! A new through route on the bed of a Beeching era closure - and one in Devon too! Can’t wait to gave a go on them. Along with HS2 they do demonstrate faith in the future of rail.

Quite. If the answer wasn't 'he couldn't care less', I'd wonder what the response of Dr.Beeching would be to:

• Channel Tunnel
• HS1
• HS2
• Waverley Line
• East West Rail
• Chiltern Line
• Crossrail
• Trans-pennine routes
• Skipton-Colne
• National electrification programme
• Sheffield Supertram / Manchester Metrolink / West Midlands Metro / Edinburgh Tram / Croydon Tramlink / Nexus
• Etc. etc. etc......

 

[Ianno87]

According to a Tweet (https://twitter.com/HarstonVillage/status/1377190601880391680?s=20) by the Harston Residents' Group, a route option consultation will be being launched later today?

Here are the two critical slides for this area of the @eastwestrail consultation which will launch later today. No A428/Cambridge North Station option which @CamBedRailRoad
and @CambApproaches pushed for. And big changes for Harston and its neighbours.

For some reason, they seem to have missed that the northern approach option has already been considered in the last round of consultation.

 

[Bald Rick]

Corrected for yoh

Quite. If the answer wasn't 'he couldn't care less', I'd wonder what the response of Dr.Beeching would be to:

• Channel Tunnel
• HS1
• HS2
• Waverley Line
• East West Rail
• Chiltern Line
• Crossrail
• Trans-pennine routes
• Skipton-Colne
• National electrification programme
• Sheffield Supertram / Manchester Metrolink / West Midlands Metro / Edinburgh Tram / Croydon Tramlink / Nexus
• Etc. etc. etc......

 

[stuu]

Quite. If the answer wasn't 'he couldn't care less', I'd wonder what the response of Dr.Beeching would be to:

• Channel Tunnel
• HS1
• HS2
• Waverley Line
• East West Rail
• Chiltern Line
• Crossrail
• Trans-pennine routes
• Skipton-Colne
• National electrification programme
• Sheffield Supertram / Manchester Metrolink / West Midlands Metro / Edinburgh Tram / Croydon Tramlink / Nexus
• Etc. etc. etc......

Given he was very supportive of electrification and modernisation, not at all surprised. He wasn't fanatically anti-rail, despite what some people believe.

None of this line nor Okehampton or the Borders line were closed in the Beeching era

 

[jfowkes]

According to a Tweet (https://twitter.com/HarstonVillage/status/1377190601880391680?s=20) by the Harston Residents' Group, a route option consultation will be being launched later today?



For some reason, they seem to have missed that the northern approach option has already been considered in the last round of consultation.

Wow, I didn't expect them to include a grade separated option where it joins the Shepreth Branch. I hope that gets approved!

 

[ABB125]

According to a Tweet (https://twitter.com/HarstonVillage/status/1377190601880391680?s=20) by the Harston Residents' Group, a route option consultation will be being launched later today?



For some reason, they seem to have missed that the northern approach option has already been considered in the last round of consultation.

1400 (less than two hours away!) according to one of the comments on the tweet. I'm rather looking forward to this!

 

[mwmbwls]

Just who is launching this route consultation?

 

[Ianno87]

Just who is launching this route consultation?

East West Rail themselves.

 

[jfowkes]

This is the "next steps" consultation, right? Having picked option E as the broad route, this is to decide on more detailed options within that scope. It's not going to consider a northern approach again, for example.

 

[Ianno87]

This is the "next steps" consultation, right? Having picked option E as the broad route, this is to decide on more detailed options within that scope. It's not going to consider a northern approach again, for example.

Yes, as I understand it; this is taking the Option E preferred corridor from the previous consultation and then developing more detailed options that follow this overall concept, e.g. different junctions at Hauxton, different station locations at Cambourne/St Neots South/Tempsford etc, but still within the same broad corridor.

 

[snowball]

Surprised nobody has posted the link to the consultation yet:

East West Rail | 2021 Consultation (closed)

In 2021 we held a non-statutory consultation about our proposals for East West Rail between Oxford and Cambridge. Analysis is now underway.

eastwestrail.co.uk

I suppose I have to post a quote.

We want to hear your views on our developing plans

This consultation covers customer experience, railway operations and a range of infrastructure proposals. We are consulting you while our plans are still at a formative stage.

Consultation closes on 9 June 2021

 

[ABB125]

This is the link to the actual consultation document: https://eastwestrail-production.s3....lic/EAS060_ConDoc_310321_Digital_MASTER-1.pdf

I've looked for a nice summary of the route options, but can't find one. Here's a map instead:



Also of note is that you can order printed copies of most of the documentation for free. I much prefer reading physical copies of documents, so I've ordered everything!

EDIT: I never realised just how much of a dog-leg approaching Cambridge from the south is; this map makes it clear.

BONUS EDIT(!): I'll make notes as I read it, to post on here a summary of the proposals.

 

[alexx]

Surprised nobody has posted the link to the consultation yet:

East West Rail | 2021 Consultation (closed)

In 2021 we held a non-statutory consultation about our proposals for East West Rail between Oxford and Cambridge. Analysis is now underway.

eastwestrail.co.uk

I suppose I have to post a quote.

Interesting that on the Oxford to Bicester section that they are looking at:

• Improvements at Oxford, Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village stations to accommodate more trains and more customers
• Proposals for one or more additional platforms at Oxford station
• Improvements to the track in the Oxford area to increase capacity for EWR trains to approach Oxford
• Alternative ways for vehicles and pedestrians to cross the railway at London Road in Bicester to improve safety, to enable a faster, more reliable train service, and to reduce traffic disruption

I'm curious what the station improvements are considering Oxford gained another exit not that long ago, and both Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village are quite long platforms already. Ditto for the track improvements in the Oxford area - changes happened not that long ago.

As for London Road, it's a bit of a mess really - and only being made worse by the barriers failing in the down position quite frequently. Not sure how long had failed for yesterday but Network Rail seemed to be on the scene pretty quickly.

 

[coppercapped]

Interesting that on the Oxford to Bicester section that they are looking at:

• Improvements at Oxford, Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village stations to accommodate more trains and more customers
• Proposals for one or more additional platforms at Oxford station
• Improvements to the track in the Oxford area to increase capacity for EWR trains to approach Oxford
• Alternative ways for vehicles and pedestrians to cross the railway at London Road in Bicester to improve safety, to enable a faster, more reliable train service, and to reduce traffic disruption

I'm curious what the station improvements are considering Oxford gained another exit not that long ago, and both Oxford Parkway and Bicester Village are quite long platforms already. Ditto for the track improvements in the Oxford area - changes happened not that long ago.
SNIP

The approaches to Oxford from the Bicester direction were designed to cope with the two trains per hour in each direction Chiltern service. As a result some use is made of the Oxford - Banbury/Hanborough tracks. With the increase in services anticipated for both routes there is a need to segregate the traffic flows - there have been proposals published in the past but I don't have them to hand. However there have been studies done by Network Rail on the route capacity over the whole Oxford - Didcot section some of which was published in Modern Railways a month or so ago. As one of the proposals is to extend, possibly, the Chiltern service south through Oxford to Cowley it may well be that the Chiltern bay platforms will be extended as through roads through the site of the existing station building towards Kennington Junction. The replacement building would be over the lines — a little like the new Reading station — at the Botley Road bridge.

So significant changes are likely at Oxford.