Aerial photos

Marcus Dawson has very generously shared some aerial pictures that he has taken of the work and of the first two trains to use the line.

First shot shows the whole of the viaduct.  Hitchin North Junction is to the right.  

This shot is taken from the west.  This was taken after the viaduct was completed but before the track and overheads were installed.  The mountain of spoil is still there as are the concrete pads that supported the crane.  The quarry is top left and the former Bedford line trackbed runs across the bottom.

Now at the east end of the viaduct where the embankment starts. The end of Wilbury Way is top left, one of several locations I used to take my pictures.  The haul road is at the bottom of the picture.

Same area from the other side of the embankment. A digger is working on reinstating the former sewage treatment works.

Here is a shot I hoped to be able to take at some stage.  Marcus was lucky enough to get this on the first day!  An East Coast service not held up by a Letchworth bound train or more likely vice versa.  This is the reason the line was built.

The train is now moving on to the embankment.  The settlement beds have been reinstated and the new fencing is in place.  A narrow strip wide enough for vehicle access has been left by the embankment.

This looks east towards the junction with the existing Cambridge branch.  Top centre is the temporary haul road from the quarry where all the chalk for the embankment came from.

Now approaching the left hand curve before passing over the accommodation bridge.  Hillgate is on the right, another vantage point for picture taking.

This picture shows Hitchin East Junction before commissioning.  The train is passing on the original down line.  Bottom left are the permanent access steps.  Again a big thank you to Marcus for providing these.  If anybody is interested in his work, please contact me and I will provide his contact details.

First day of public service

I am pleased to report that the new chord was successfully commissioned  today.  First Capital Connect ran three trains today, all Moorgate to Letchworth Services.  The first was the 1252 followed by the 1352 and the 1452.  This pattern will be repeated tomorrow.  This is a great achievement to bring the project to completion ahead of the original schedule and under budget, a rare thing with major engineering projects. Congratulations to the Hitchin Alliance comprised of Network Rail and Hochtief.  Also to Mabey Bridge, Volker Rail and all the other subcontractors.

I was on the first train along with a number of people from the Hitchin Alliance.   No other train apart from the tracklayer and ballast trains had run over the chord so this really was the first proper train to use it.  There was some trepidation as to whether the new platform starter signal would work showing the path onto the viaduct.  However it duly lit up as the train approached much to the relief of those present.  We all crowded onto the train much to the bemusement of those already on it.  I heard one passenger say that there are normally only about 6 passengers on it.

The driver made an announcement that this was the very first service to use the chord and that we would would head towards Arlesey before leaving the down slow at Hitchin North Junction..  I have to report that the ride was very smooth but it felt slightly strange to actually be on a train after so long watching the construction.  After coming off the viaduct the train slowed and then came to a halt at the signal protecting Hitchin East Junction.  There was some concern amongst the Network Rail contingent but we were held to allow the Kings Lynn service to pass on the original Cambridge line.  I half thought that they arranged this so they could get off at their site offices!  Then the general consensus was that this was a good thing as it proved the signalling was working correctly and that the new chord was proving its worth in letting a faster service pass. Anyway the signal changed and we set off again joining the existing line and heading into Letchworth.

Most people who were on the train then caught the next one back to Hitchin.  I will put up some pictures tonight.  Some are not great as it is hard to take shots from the train through the window.  I also managed to catch the 1452 service coming off the viaduct.

First picture shows the new signal indicating that the path will be across the other three lines and onto the Cambridge branch.  The Cambridge service can be seen waiting  in the mirror below.

 The Cambridge train departs and takes the original route.

 The next train was a Peterborough service.  The indicator didn't show anything because the train was remaining on the down slow.  There was also a right hand diagonal that would have indicated a crossover to the down fast.  The assembled group are mainly from the Hitchin Alliance.

 Our train is announced.  It was 5 minutes late in the end.

The indicator shows the path onto the viaduct. There was general jubilation at this point!

 Our train approaches.  It stops and we all pile on.  No going back now!

 We move onto the viaduct and pass the scrapyard.

 Then pass the ongoing drainage works.  We are actually on the last section of viaduct to be lifted in last October.

This is where the mountain of spoil was stored during the construction work.  The former trackbed of the Bedford line follows the fence line and then heads into the slight gap in the trees.

 Crossing over the East Coast main line.  Icknield Way bridge can be seen centre right.

 Now on the embankment we pass the quarry where the chalk came from. A digger was at work on the reinstatement work.

 Moving on we can see the main site compound.  Those not on the train were looking out of the windows with some relief I am guessing.

 We slow for the red signal.  Lovely display of poppies here.  Apparently they spent most of last week planting them!  I managed to get a window open at this point so it improved the quality a bit.

 Here is the reason for the red signal.  The Kings Lynn service on the original line.

 Now moving out of sight as it passes Hitchin East Junction.

 We get a yellow signal and move off slowly.  The gap in the poppies is the temporary access road up the embankment

 Looking back at the chord from Hitchin East Junction.

Finally two pictures of the 1452 service at the east end of the viaduct. I just managed to get there about thirty seconds before it arrived.

Now moving on to the embankment. 

 Here is a three car unit moving onto the higher ground before crossing the ECML

Trees now in leaf are obscuring the view a bit unfortunately. I will endeavour to get some more shots from different locations over the next few days.

One day to go!

I thought I would take a last look at Hitchin East Junction today just in case there was anything to report so I was wrong about the next report!  However I am confident there will be one tomorrow.

Here is the other signal showing red like the other one.  

 Here is the culvert next to the bridge displaying a 006 bridge plate with a corresponding one above by the trackside.

 Here is a closeup.  DCF stands for Down Cambridge Flyover with the distance shown as 33 miles 63 chains.

 Here is the bridge plate for the accommodation bridge.  It actually states bridge on the sign.

 Whilst I was there four workers arrived with two opening a cabinet on the Cambridge branch seen above while the other two opened a similar one on the new line, seen below.

Last picture is looking back from the Cambridge line as it enters the cutting.  Amazing how the new embankment has blended into the landscape considering that this section wasn't even here twelve months ago.

Two days to go!

It is now only two days until the new chord is commissioned and all was quiet today when I made a brief visit.  This suggests that everything is ready or I am sure that there would be last minute activity.  The new line will be brought into service overnight Sunday evening/Monday morning.  Hopefully I will be able to report on the first trains to use it but these have not been confirmed yet.  All week there has been considerable activity over by Hitchin North Junction with the continuous sounding of train horns has they passed by the workforce.   The following picture shows some of the noticeable changes since my last visit.

The guard railing has been completed and some new signs installed.

 A closer look reveals an interesting sign that gives quite a bit of information about the five tracks.  The new one is described as Cambridge Flyover.   It tells us that we are 32 miles and 1320yds from Kings Cross.  The cant and gradient information relate to the ECML.  The gradient of the new line is 1:86 as it moves onto the viaduct.  There is also a limited clearance sign on the end of the edge wall.

Here you can see the new signal in the centre of the picture, one of only two on the chord.  The other protects Hitchin East Junction.

 The next three were taken yesterday.  A glorious display of poppies is in bloom all around the new embankment.  A 55mph speed sign has gone up recently.  This means that drivers can really "put their foot down" after the 50mph restriction!  There is also a 004 sign to the right which is a bridge plate for the drainage culvert that passes under the embankment..

Work was still continuing of the landscaping of the quarry.

Quite a few orange clad workers were in evidence.  Maybe Railway Inspectorate officers signing off the new line or last minute checks by Network Rail.?  I am confident that the next report will be on Monday reporting the successful commissioning of the chord.

Early June roundup

We are now only just over two weeks to commissioning, scheduled for June 24th.  I don't expect to see too much in the early days as First Capital Connect will probably only use it to return empty stock to the carriage sidings in Letchworth.  This will gradually familiarize their drivers with the route.   The main changes since my last post are the permanent connection of the overhead line equipment to the existing system and the installation of signalling.  Drainage work has advanced a bit but there is no change to the main works by the River Hiz.

This shot shows the temporary connection at Hitchin North Junction

 Now connected permanently to the East Coast Main Line system.  There is absolutely no doubt that the OLE on the chord is live with 25kv continuously.

Turning to the left you can see the new sign proclaiming the 50mph  speed limit on the viaduct and embankment.

New signal on the viaduct now operational.

Awkward angle but you can just make out the new signal showing red.

 Here is the other new signal protecting Hitchin East Junction in the centre of the picture.  I was too far away to see if it was illuminated but I am guessing it is showing red too.

Looking south towards the scrapyard.  I haven't been able to access this area for some time due to waterlogging.  It was still quite bad today.  The higher sections of guard railing that can be seen every 20 metres or so are for protection in the unlikely event event of a train having to be evacuated on the viaduct.  There is a small ladder behind each one to allow passengers to climb over the concrete lip. The higher rail would stop anyone going too far!

 New drainage channel coming down off the higher ground inside the new security fencing.

 A drain pipe feeds into the new channel.

 The channel continues on towards the new ditch that is under construction.

 I decided to take a picture from the Icknield Way footbridge now that the work is virtually finished.  I took this from the northern edge of the site now that the "mountain" has gone.  I was standing on the original level which was already much higher from a previous "landfill" operation.  I reckon the new level is around 10ft higher.

 And here is the shot from the bridge.  An East Coast service is passing under the viaduct.

 And just for interest, a shot north from the bridge.  The line is dead straight as far as the eye can see.

Finally this link shows why grade separation is a good idea and not just for preventing delays.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57586201/massive-missouri-train-collision-takes-down-highway-overpass/