Drainage works 14th April

After last week's visit, not so much to report this week.  It is very likely the piling and installation of the overhead line equipment will begin next week.  I will endeavour to get some pictures of this happening.  The main visible changes were at the Hitchin North Junction end relating to the drainage work.  There was however a welcome turnaround in the weather.  Last week was bitterly cold with snow flurries.  Today was shirt sleeve weather .

Looking towards the viaduct from the banks of the River Hiz.  Area now fenced off and warning signs in place. Drainage work is well under way.

 Culvert with what appears to be a debris trap.  It is quite deep but it has to nearly match the river level I guess which is just behind me.

 Could these be additional beetle banks?  They are on both sides of the culvert.  I am sure when this work is finished and landscaped, it will be an attractive addition to the conservation area.

 Tidying up of the area continues.  Still a way to go on the triangle of higher ground, though.

 Expansion gap with protection against birds perching.

 More mesh to prevent birds from nesting.  This is being installed along the whole length of the viaduct.

Last picture shows the river bridge by the new Hitchin North junction.  More ballast has appeared since my last visit.  Also the two boards that were behind the fence above the bridge have gone and are now downstream in the river.  Whoever did this was being incredibly reckless as they were trespassing by the side of a high speed railway line.  The gap in the new fence has now been closed so that will hopefully prevent any further trespass.

Site visit 4th April

I am very grateful to Network Rail for showing me around the site today on what was one of the coldest April days I have ever known.  I have nothing but admiration for the construction workers  getting on with their various tasks on the exposed embankment and viaduct.  The project remains on schedule for June commissioning in around twelve weeks.

 First picture shows the line curving round to Hitchin East Junction.  I was correct that the line of black trunking was ducting for the signalling cables that also provides a slip resistant walkway for maintenance workers in the future.  It is certainly a lot more comfortable to walk on than ballasted track.  The gap in the ducting is to allow vehicle access via a temporary ramp against the embankment.

Next picture taken from the same spot looking the other way shows the embankment swinging round towards the industrial area, track nicely level and ballasted.  Just before the accommodation bridge is a platform for signalling cabinets.

 A closer look at the cabinet platform.  The supports are driven down into the chalk embankment.  It is quite an elaborate construction for two cabinets.  Note the cable conduits beneath that match the spurs off the main trunking.

 Adjacent to this, connections to the track that allow the control room to see where the train is.  The special link this side insolates the two sections of rail.

 Drainage work here is finished and work to return the area to its original state is underway.  The fence in the centre will be the permanent boundary with enough room for a maintenance vehicle to travel around the chord.

 Here are the stanchions for the overhead line equipment.   

 And the piles that will support them.  They look really substantial but they have to be as the stability of the overhead equipment is vital due to the high voltages involved.

 Moving to the end of the viaduct, there is an interesting feature here.  An expansion joint that will allow up to 100 mm of movement.

 The track was being tensioned and welded today.  This is a joint that had just been finished adjacent to the expansion joint.

 Looking back along the embankment from the same spot.

 Another cabinet platform being assembled.

This is the walkway that runs the length of the viaduct.  It will also be used for the cable ducting and will have a lid fitted for walking on.  It is actually wider than it looks.

 Another joint being prepared.  I believe the process is called alumino thermic welding.

 One the other side that had just been finished and awaiting fettling.

 A hand operated machine that clips the rail to the chairs.

 Now a look at Hitchin North Junction. The turnout here on to the chord doesn't look too bad as it is the main line that swings away here.  Just north of here was the point where the ECML and the former Bedford line, seen on the right, parted company.  Work was continuing to build up the ballast at the side of the junction.

 The teleloader was moving ballast from the heap behind and dropping it between the two re-positioned stanchions.

 A close up of the junction shows that there is still tamping and ballasting to do here. A further delivery of ballast is required to finish the job.

 A look at the start of the viaduct, fenced off to separate the working railway from the work site.

 And the walkway also blocked to warn anyone coming that way. I am grateful to my guide for taking these last few pictures from the side of the ECML.

 Looking down at the permanent access gate.  A cabinet has been installed since Easter.

 Last picture shows the route down to the River Hiz from the viaduct for drainage.  I usually take pictures from the other side of the fence.  Preliminary clearance work has started.

Easter update

Apologies for a lack of updates recently.  There has either not been very much visible change or I had other commitments.  I will hopefully be visiting the site again next week courtesy of Network Rail so should have some better pictures.  The tamper finished leveling and ballasting the line this week so the way is clear for the overhead line equipment to be installed.  This was necessary before the foundations for the masts could be put in because the height in relation to the track has to be correct.  This will be done next month by a rail mounted machine.  I will hopefully get some shots of it in action.  

New signalling will also be put in place soon.  There will be two on the new chord, one on the viaduct and one shortly before Hitchin East Junction to protect the existing Cambridge line.  There were some concerns that a heavy freight train held just before the junction might have difficulty starting again as this is a 1 in 89 gradient.  However Network Rail are confident that this won't happen.  Anyway the new chord should be the preferred route so there shouldn't often be anything on the existing Cambridge down.  There will be alterations to the existing signalling on the ECML on the approaches to Hitchin.  There will be two preliminary route indicators to tell drivers they are to be routed via the new chord.  One will indicate a crossover from the down fast to the down slow and the other from the down slow to the viaduct.  The crossovers at Hitchin South Junction and the one north of the station have been upgraded to allow change of line at speed (70mph).  Therefore a fast non stopping Cambridge service on the down fast can pass a stopping service waiting at Hitchin station, move to the down slow and then access the viaduct.  The gradient of the viaduct is actually steeper at 1 in 86 but there wouldn't generally be anything to stop a train routed that way.  Drivers are being trained using a video showing the route with the new signals.

For anyone interested, there will be an opportunity to walk the whole route from Stotfold Road to Hitchin North Junction on May 11th from 11.00am to 3.00pm.  This will be a circular walk returning via the Icknield Way footbridge over the ECML and back to the site compound.  Network Rail have generously facilitated this to raise money for the Garden House Hospice charity.  This is a preliminary date so I will post more information when it becomes available.

 The embankment of the former Bedford line is being re-instated as this picture shows.

 Looking north from the same spot.  The next picture shows the work better.

 The line of chalk to the left shows the edge of the embankment that was removed.  All to the right is the re-instatement.

 The mountain of spoil is much reduced on the triangle of land between the two embankments.

 The Icknield Way footbridge is visible again.

 More of the viaduct can now be seen from the Bedford line embankment now the heap has nearly gone.

A line of marker posts leading down to the River Hiz.  Work to install the settlement ponds will soon be started if planning permission is granted.

 A closer look at one of the markers.  Must make sense to the right person, I guess!

 A couple of new small ponds have recently appeared nearby.  Maybe test digs for the real thing?

 Plant now seems to be stored in the National Grid gas works.  Also a new white structure has recently appeared.  There has been some theft from the site recently so if anyone sees anything suspicious, they should report it immediately if possible.

 Looking north from the scrapyard entrance, you can see the extent of the replaced embankment.

Security fencing complete with three separate gates to access the various areas is now finished apart from what appears to be a deliberate gap at the far end.

Wire mesh has been put around the bearings of the viaduct probably to deter birds.

A concrete post and wooden rail fence has been installed around both abutments of the former Bedford line bridge in contrast to the palisade fencing elsewhere.

Fully ballasted and tamped line with the quarry behind still snow covered in places.

Another shot of one of the highest parts of the embankment.  The top ballast appears to be a lighter colour than the bottom ballast.  I believe it took 1200 tonnes to finish it.  The train that delivered it was a good test for the viaduct.

Finally a long shot of Hitchin East junction.  I can't be sure from this distance but it looks like new signalling cabinets have been installed with trunking laid along side.  I will hopefully be able to confirm this soon.

Sunday March 3rd

I am afraid there is very little to report this week. The main changes are at the Hitchin North Junction end and mainly concern fencing and access works. It does appear as if a short length of contact wire has been added to the overhead since last week.

 Palisade fencing completed apart from a small gap since last week

 Looking north towards the viaduct.

 Now looking south.  Still some more fencing to go in and presumably a gate to allow access to the steps and walkway.

Better view of the new steps.

Not quite sure what this is for but the ducts have some pull through lines so maybe power or communications

Steps and walkway leading up to the new junction.

Drainage work has advanced but still not going anywhere as the wet patch on the pad shows.

Bit hard to make out but the contact wire has been added on this short run on to the new embankment section.