Gospel Oak to Barking Electrification - weekend work June and July

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Permalink Reply by Konrad B on June 4, 2017 at 23:33

See also StroudGreen Org

"What's that constant banging noise?'

http://www.stroudgreen.org/discussion/6741/whats-that-constant-bang...

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Permalink Reply by Richard Matz on June 5, 2017 at 11:02

Islington Gazette Feb 2017

The word from a contractor I know who was working on the line during it's planned closure is that the, er, design inaccuracies included not enough clearance under some of the bridges for overhead power lines - a major clusterf*ck that is unlikely to be resolved quickly without further noise and disruption to services.

TfL, which put up the cash for the works, said it was “extremely disappointed” and would be “seeking compensation”.

Jonathan Fox, TfL’s director of London rail, added Network Rail did not inform TfL of the “significant problems” until “very recently”.

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Permalink Reply by John Leeming on June 9, 2017 at 10:12

Is this a reflection of the serious skill shortages in the UK, possibly related to the low profile given to the engineering profession?

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Permalink Reply by Glenn Wallis on June 9, 2017 at 11:36

Konrad,

You've obviously come to this rather late, I suggest you have a look at our website to catch up barking-gospeloak.org.uk

I am concerned that there is pile driving taking place anywhere west of Walthamstow as all the overhead line masts were installed there. Are Network Rail ripping out the masts they put in a year ago and pile driving  foundations for new ones? Any info any residents can give would be appreciated.

Network Rail has told BGORUG that they are able to run the overhead wires under Crouch Hill bridge but that they will need to raise the bridge by 300mm in the near future (2018 or 2019?).

Glenn Wallis, Secretary, Barking - Gospel Oak Rail User Group

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Permalink Reply by Konrad B on June 9, 2017 at 15:10

"You've obviously come to this rather late, I suggest you have a look at our website to catch up barking-gospeloak.org.uk"  

I'm not sure what you mean.  I had a look at your web site and there is nothing about pile driving and as the User Group didn't seem to know, I am actually in advance of you and certainly not "rather late".  

In addition the information I give above also includes times of working e.g. 'till 4am on the Monday mornings - an important point if one lives within earshot of the line.  This information isn't included in your "latest News 19 May 1017".

I think that the pile driving was taking place between Oakfield Rd and Lancaster Road, N4

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Permalink Reply by Glenn Wallis on June 10, 2017 at 14:26

If you look at the following press releases, newsletters and bulletins posted on our website:

http://barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20170206_press_release.pdf

http://barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/2017_Spring_Newsletter.pdf

http://barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20170322_newsletter.pdf

http://barking-gospeloak.org.uk/documents/20170505_newsletter.pdf

You will see that this work should have been completed in February! Indeed a lot of work took place including an awful lot of piledriving, done at more reasonable hours, for the electrification masts in your area. What is concerning is that BGORUG expected work to now to be concentrated at the east end of the line where there are several sections without any overhead masts. That there is piledriving taking place in the Harringay Park Junction area suggests that the masts put in no more than eighteen months ago are useless and piledriving their replacements is taking place.

Network Rail refused to announce its revised plan for completing electrification in early May due to pre election purdah rules. Now the election is out of the way I will contact our contact at Network Rail #GOBE project and ask what is going on.

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