First track laid.

On a beautiful sunny Sunday morning, I took the footpath beside the Cambridge branch out to the point where the new line meets the old. I knew there was an engineers' possession of the line today as the dreaded bus replacement service was in operation and I hoped to see some progress. I wasn't disappointed as I could see a lot of orange clad workers as I approached. There was a Network Rail permanent way train waiting, engine running, on the up line just at the point where the line enters the cutting. I could see another on the up line with a couple of diggers unloading ballast adjacent to the new junction. It appears that they were installing the points and the first section of track. The first train had been loaded with used ballast mixed with soil and presumably they were replacing this with fresh ballast. I could see sleepers and lengths of rail on top of the new embankment.  I subsequently learned that the new points have not been installed but are laid waiting for the next closure.  Apparently this was preliminary work which included removing an overhead gantry that was in the way and connecting up one of the new gantries.  I am grateful to the passenger on a passing train that provided this information.

Here is the point where the two lines converge. 

Moving closer you can see the works train is being unloaded.  Note how deep the ballast is in the apex of the two lines.  Lengths of rail can be seen on the new embankment.  There are several lighting gantries on site so I am guessing they started pretty early probably after the last train ran.

Looking from the highest point across the farm bridge.  Couldn't quite make out what was on the last part of the train, possibly concrete sleepers.  You can count six lighting gantries from this angle.

Here is a shot of the other train further up towards Hitchin

The temporary ramp up onto the embankment next to the farm access bridge has gone and the soil capping put in place.  Grass is starting to appear now albeit quite sparsely as you can see to the right of the bridge.

Turning to the left you can see the embankment snaking round onto the viaduct.  The gradient just before the viaduct is apparent from this angle.  The ballast didn't appear to have been extended since my last visit.

Another drainage culvert under the line at one of the low points of the adjacent field taking water through to the other side.

Here you can see the drainage ditch and beetle bank under construction.  There is a culvert under the farm track.

As I made my way back, the other train moved off and passed me while I walked along the top of the cutting.  It made a terrible squealing and clanking noise.  It sounded as if one of the wagons had got a square wheel.  When I reached the end it had stopped and the driver was on the lineside phone presumably seeking permission to proceed.  Here is the loco still in its EWS livery.

The driver and his assistant.  When the train moved off again the assistant walked ahead of it.  We will soon have a new junction and possibly two if similar work was being carried out at the other end of the line.  I didn't have time to check today.  The existing junction is known as Cambridge Junction so I am guessing they will have to identify all three junctions individually.  Maybe Cambridge South for the existing one and Cambridge North and East for the new ones or possibly West and East.  On the other hand I might be completely wrong!  I