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London Bridge re-development


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  • RMweb Gold

I'm hoping to get on a Charing Cross train later in the week, for two reasons: [1] to see how much I've recovered since my operation in mid-November, and [2] to see what they've done at London Bridge. I shan't be going tomorrow just in case there are problems with the work overrunning (though there shouldn't be any). I'll take my camera too, but probably won't get anything worth putting on here.

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Thye're running through on the new viaduct today. There weren't many problems that I noticed, just the "usual" congestion/signaling problems in the London Bridge Area which meant my train was approx. 5 minutes late in to LBG - pretty much par for the course at the moment.

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  • RMweb Gold

Sorry this has taken a while. I went on a trip through London Bridge yesterday, then had problems sorting the files for uploading. In the end I had to split the videos into several files. On the up journey there appeared to be a severe speed restriction just at the approach to the platform. On the down run speed was quite brisk hrough the paltforms, presumably as there are no active workzones close to the platform edge.

 

Up approach and platform

http://24072247912_2e77b6bb9c_b.jpgLondon Bridge works by David Harvey, on Flickr

 

Up Borough Market viaduct

http://24098601461_fc58706a1f_b.jpgLondon Bridge works by David Harvey, on Flickr

 

Down, passing Canon St curve

http://24187700015_d78afbbd24_b.jpgLondon Bridge works by David Harvey, on Flickr

 

Down Borough Market

http://23892754550_be92249198_b.jpgLondon Bridge works by David Harvey, on Flickr

 

Down platform

http://24106622981_62572dea0b_b.jpgLondon Bridge works by David Harvey, on Flickr

 

 

THanks

 

Dave

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  • 2 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

The last section of arches and viaduct makes way for the remaining new platforms.....

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CfV4GoWWsAAw0d9.jpg:large

 

 

The new roof looks like it's warped in the heat produced by sunlight reflecting off the Shard.....

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeT_XISXIAAP6Xk.jpg:large

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CaJLD_bXEAA1y3M.jpg:large

 

 

Impressive in its own way though....

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CfMmItiWsAANmIA.jpg:large

 

 

More...

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CezplWBWIAEaHLW.jpg:large

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CdF10P-W0AA3HX0.jpg:large

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cct965qWEAABeNK.jpg:large

 

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CatVKzzXEAUeRZP.jpg:large

.

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  • RMweb Premium

For those wishing to get a good view of the current approach to London Bridge, this cab ride video, filmed on the 19th May this year may be of interest.

 

 

Also those who may remember East Croydon station may also be surprised at all the high rise construction going on around it (15mins in) while the new Thameslink depot appears 37mins in and Haywards Heath with its new footbridge and car park at 46min

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Just to keep me up to date, when is the next big change around due to take place there and the next set of platforms due to come back into use.

 

Jamie

Jamie,

 

The information is that late August to open the CX platforms and close the CS platforms.  At the moment trains can run through the CX up main and loop, and the down CX main.  Looking out of two trains today (refer to ER post), they are progressing with the down CX loop and the Thameslink platforms.  Haven't a clue if they can meet targets.

 

Bill

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Jamie,

 

The information is that late August to open the CX platforms and close the CS platforms.  At the moment trains can run through the CX up main and loop, and the down CX main.  Looking out of two trains today (refer to ER post), they are progressing with the down CX loop and the Thameslink platforms.  Haven't a clue if they can meet targets.

 

Bill

Following the Next Blockade, which is a 6 day one from 27th August until 1st September.

 

Cannon Street Services will cease to call at London Bridge.

 

Charing Cross services will resume calling at London Bridge.

 

Signalling between Cannon Street and London Bridge will be Transferred from London Bridge SC to Three Bridges Regional Operations Control Centre, TBROCC and will be prefixed TL from that Date.

 

The Cannon street lines are due to be 'Slewed' at the 'Country End' during this Blockade.

 

The UP Cannon Street will travel through what will become Platform six, non stop ( one of the two eventual Down Charing Cross platforms ).

 

The Down Cannon Street will pass, non stop, through the site of Platform 5 ( what will become the Up GTR platform ).

 

There will be changes to All Southeastern services at/from this time.

 

HTH.

 

MC

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Following the Next Blockade, which is a 6 day one from 27th August until 1st September.

 

I had better book that week off work then!

 

Travelling through London Bridge every day to Charing Cross this week it was interesting to see how the new track gradually extended through the first of the new Thameslink platforms from the short headshunt installed as part of the last May blockade. With that track laid they can use it to lay the adjacent one, then install the P&C at the West end throat etc etc. An impressive logistical feat.

 

Does anyone know if the Bermondsey diveunder is due to be brought into service during the August blockade or will that follow later in the programme?

 

Regards,

 

Dan

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Does anyone know if the Bermondsey diveunder is due to be brought into service during the August blockade or will that follow later in the programme?

Much, Much Later ... I'd say its only approximately half way in the construction phase ATM.

 

MC

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  • RMweb Gold

The four escalators from the underground to the upper concourse are due to be taken out of use soon, and the lift a bit later. This is to allow access directly to the new concourse. The shops seem to be closed already. The Tooley Street frontage is also scaffolded ready for demolition.

 

Pics up to last week here, just reordered to latest first

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157631598692631

 

As for the diveunder I have heard that is scheduled for full operation in August next year, though one of the diveunder tracks may be in use later this year.

 

Pics up to last week here, just reordered to latest first

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157633053354298

 

Thanks

 

Dave

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The four escalators from the underground to the upper concourse are due to be taken out of use soon, and the lift a bit later. This is to allow access directly to the new concourse. The shops seem to be closed already. The Tooley Street frontage is also scaffolded ready for demolition.

 

Pics up to last week here, just reordered to latest first

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157631598692631

 

As for the diveunder I have heard that is scheduled for full operation in August next year, though one of the diveunder tracks may be in use later this year.

 

Pics up to last week here, just reordered to latest first

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/unravelled/albums/72157633053354298

 

Thanks

 

Dave

 

Many thanks for posting these Dave - I have spent more time than I should browsing through. They show the incredible complexity and scale of the project over time in such confined spaces. I worked on many complex projects in my time, but none ever quite matched this. Despite some of the well publicised problems, hats off to the the project team.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks for these pics and articles Ron x 3

 

Carne's comments would appear to be playing to TfL's tune. which is understandable if not exactly subtle. They want reasons to extend the tube and London Overground south and that can only help, if somewhat questionable post-Brexit. Forecast modelling will be extremely difficult for the next decade, given the mixed messages from all concerned, vis the job market, housing, autobot cars and so on. We were always told video conferencing, the internet generally and the likelihood of increased home working would preclude increased rail travel, and that was twenty-five or more years ago, so the Treasury were disinclined to release the sovs. In particular, the boom then bust of the late 80;s and early 90's were cited. Forecasts were based on historical data (which was not optimistic) plus socio-economic guesswork. The opposite then happened. Can the inexorable growth continue? BetFred would not give me any odds (other risk-based investment houses are available).

 

Notwithstanding the 50 year scenario, and acknowledging the seriously impressive architectural achievement of natural light in a subterranean world, I would be more concerned about how this concourse will work in practice, especially in peturbation. Knowing my ex-colleagues and their upstart replacements, they will have modelled this to the nth degree, but we will see. From the photos you have posted, I can see some previous errors repeated,  but also some attempts at distributed info which may disperse potential overcrowding at key flow points. It will be fascinating to watch (especially when one has no longer any responsibility and a propensity to gloat - guilty) but I fear a combination of site contraints, budget constraints and a general unwillingness to embrace some new IT techniques and ideas, may produce some different Standard headlines in a year or two. I hope I am wrong.

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  • RMweb Gold

Thanks for these pics and articles Ron x 3

 

Carne's comments would appear to be playing to TfL's tune. which is understandable if not exactly subtle. They want reasons to extend the tube and London Overground south and that can only help, if somewhat questionable post-Brexit. Forecast modelling will be extremely difficult for the next decade, given the mixed messages from all concerned, vis the job market, housing, autobot cars and so on. We were always told video conferencing, the internet generally and the likelihood of increased home working would preclude increased rail travel, and that was twenty-five or more years ago, so the Treasury were disinclined to release the sovs. In particular, the boom then bust of the late 80;s and early 90's were cited. Forecasts were based on historical data (which was not optimistic) plus socio-economic guesswork. The opposite then happened. Can the inexorable growth continue? BetFred would not give me any odds (other risk-based investment houses are available).

 

Notwithstanding the 50 year scenario, and acknowledging the seriously impressive architectural achievement of natural light in a subterranean world, I would be more concerned about how this concourse will work in practice, especially in peturbation. Knowing my ex-colleagues and their upstart replacements, they will have modelled this to the nth degree, but we will see. From the photos you have posted, I can see some previous errors repeated,  but also some attempts at distributed info which may disperse potential overcrowding at key flow points. It will be fascinating to watch (especially when one has no longer any responsibility and a propensity to gloat - guilty) but I fear a combination of site contraints, budget constraints and a general unwillingness to embrace some new IT techniques and ideas, may produce some different Standard headlines in a year or two. I hope I am wrong.

 

It is interesting to compare it with the footbridge (nee transfer deck) at Reading where two things have happened.  Firstly the addition of the various retail units has disrupted some of the logical pathways for passengers changing platforms and effectively concentrated passenger flows along the two sides separated by the retail units plus a number of the lift access points have been partially obscured by retail units, although there is still plenty of access room, provided you know where to look.  The other thing which has happened, notwithstanding what I (and obviously the designers) certainly regarded as a good standard of signing from the start has been various changes to the signing such as making platform numbers larger plus adding additional signs.  Finally, and perhaps not really thought through originally, temporary barriers have been put in to separate passengers going in the two opposite directions at the top of the main south side escalator bank.

 

I get the impression that what you can almost guarantee was carefully thought out in the original design might be found wanting in practice because the passengers weren't as carefully designed as the station.

 

But at least London Bridge won't suffer one of the major design failures of Reading where the excellent covered access from the car park to the platforms of the 1989 scheme has been lost and replaced by the need to go out of doors and cross a 'bus route on a blind bend

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