London railway upgrades – a progress report

One of the periodic reports from TfL has been released with details of ongoing network upgrades across the networks it controls over the past few months.

If you’ve ever wondered what goes on when the lines are closed at weekends, this will inform you.

Stations

Bank station

At Bank station, they have completed 80 percent of the tunnelling work and is ahead of schedule for waterproofing the tunnels. TfL  marked a major achievement by completing the large-scale, top-down excavation works and we can now begin installing lift shafts for the new station entrance and ticket hall under the Bank project.

They’ve also removed redundant power and transformer equipment, via engineer’s trains ahead of schedule, releasing Central line shaft demolition works ahead of plan so that tunnelling works can begin in 2019.

Camden Town

They’ve completed the over-site development design ready for the planning application for the station upgrade works. TfL has also purchased a property on Kentish Town Road and is in negotiations to purchase the redundant Hawley Infants School.

Finsbury Park

TfL has started to install lifts to make the station step-free. Work has also started on a new passageway linking the existing station to the future western station entrance.

Limehouse

The canopy, glazing and new DLR escalators have been installed and full testing of the escalators completed. Commissioning works remain before operational use can be granted.

Harrow-on-the-Hill

Design work on adding lifts to the station is progressing, with early drainage works started to allow construction of the three platform lift towers. The first phase – to provide step-free access to all platforms and to the College Road side of the station – will be completed in early 2020.

Tottenham Hale station

Works to non-customer areas were completed on 7 November and foundation works are planned for completion later in 2018. Works above ground level will follow pending a resolution with the train operating company and Network Rail
revenue protection issues.

Rotherhithe

An innovative in-truss replacement of two station escalators was successfully undertaken.

South Kensington

They have completed concept design for the capacity upgrade and continue work to appoint a design and build contractor.

IanVisits note – awarding the contract has been delayed until early next year.

Newbury Park

They completed lift installation works and the station became step-free on 1st November 2018.

Paddington station

The connection between the Bakerloo and Elizabeth lines has been completed, and permanent power supplied.

Concept design work is underway for the new Bakerloo line entrance planned as part of the “Paddington Cube” development.

West Ham

Work is underway to design a new entrance leading to a new housing and office development next to the station. The design is under way, with work planned to start on site in 2019.

Railway lines

Subsurface lines

As part of the Four Lines Modernisation programme, they have installed the new automatic train control equipment on 75 trains required for the front section of the new signalling. They are also on schedule to upgrade trains for the remaining sections of the railway.

Overall, the programme is below budget, but there are however early indications of a cost challenge on the main signalling contract, which is being reviewed in detail to drive mitigations.

They have also replaced the track from South Kensington to Gloucester Road
and reduced the vertical step between trains and platform one.

Almost 200 metres of track between Moorgate and Farringdon was replaced. This included the replacement of floating slab track at Barbican, which reduces track noise for nearby residents.

They installed almost 500 metres of slab track in the northbound tunnel from Baker Street to Finchley Road on the Metropolitan line to improve reliability, track drainage, reduce maintenance and increase track lifespan.

Northern line

On the Capacity Optimisation programme, they have completed Northern Line Speed Improvement and all of the track works. The design and build contract has been awarded for the Northern line power works.

An additional wheel lathe and lifting facility is required at Morden Depot to increase train availability to peak service frequencies on the Northern line once the Battersea extension has opened. This project is taking place in collaboration with Alstom, which provides the Northern line fleet.

The projected completion date for the extension, of 2020 is being reviewed as the designs for Battersea Power Station’s over site development and the Tube station have evolved.

Central line

During a weekend in early September, TfL replaced more than 300 metres of track between Woodford and South Woodford and at Leytonstone.

A rectifier transformer has been installed at South Woodford to provide a more reliable power supply to the line.

Jubilee line

On the Jubilee line, 31 out of 63 trains have been refurbished The refurbishment includes a wheelchair area, new flooring, refreshed interiors and works to improve the reliability of trains.

DLR

Negotiations with UK Power Networks to secure additional power supplies have begun and a solution proposed. Negotiations continue with Thales to agree the scope of services for the signalling upgrade required to support replacement rolling stock currently being ordered.

London Overground

The contract award for the Barking Riverside extension has been delayed due to higher than expected bids from contractors. This is not expected to impact on the delivery date though.

Conductor rail heating units were replaced along parts of the Overground tracks to mitigate the risk of adverse weather impacts.