As part of the Crossrail project, two platforms at Liverpool Street station have been lengthened, and one platform was taken out of action entirely.
At the moment, the future Elizabeth line trains that run between Liverpool Street and Shenfield are 7-carriages long, but to extend them to the full 9-carriages required two platforms to be lengthened.
Platform lengthening work (c) BCM
When the Elizabeth line is fully open, trains will mainly use the new underground platforms, but there will be a four trains per hour service between Gidea Park and Liverpool Street in the rush hours, and those will use the mainline station platforms.
Platforms 16 and 17 have now been lengthened, with the final works carried out over Easter. In order to fit the longer platforms in though, the neighbouring platform 18 had to be decommissioned entirely as the tracks leading to it were cut by the longer platform.
Cutting the track curve to platform 18 (c) BCM
The works, which included modular platform extensions, slab track installation, roof-mounted OLE and multidisciplinary design were carried out by BCM.
In related news, Network Rail also replaced worn-out timber sleepers on platforms 13 and 14, so they can now support 12 carriage trains instead of the previous limit on 8 carriage trains.
I take it they have not rebuilt platforms to provide level access to trains as on tunnel sections or Thameslink central stations.
The track for platform 18 has not been cut.
The track for platform 17 has been cut and the new platform built on top of it.
The track for the old platform 18 is now the track for platform 17.
I can confirm that the track for platform 18 was cut and removed. A new section of track was installed for the new platform 17. This is positioned in a slightly different alignment to the former platform 18 track and is of a totally different formation design to the former.
Oh gosh, they relaid the track and left it right next to platform 18. Silly old me
Funny how when this was first announced before the pandemic there were concerns on the huge amount of disruption these works would cause to commuters but thanks to Covid it’s barely been noticed.
Sounds similar to Lime Street. What were platforms 2 and 3 were extended, but there was no longer room for the connection to platform 1, so it was taken out and the rest of the platforms renumbered
I wonder if the doors will open on both sides at the new Platform 17 – I looks like it’s designed that way.
No just on one side. There are railings on the old platform 18 side to save staff coming out of the store rooms etc falling onto the track.
When are the 9 carriage trains due to start running on the current shenfield to liverpool street route?
May was the plan, but this is Crossrail!!
How long will the journey from Shenfield to Tottenham Court Road take on the Elizabeth Line? As this will stop at all stations on the Liverpool Street line will it still be quicker to take the fast train to Liverpool Street and then on Central Line as it is now?