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| Hitchin Fly-over 06/07/2012 at 21:26 #33701 | |
Quizman
276 posts |
Timelapse video of the flyover being erected last Sunday. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOlveuZFfs8 Timetablers/developers, you have until early 2014 to bring out an update. :lol: Last edited: 06/07/2012 at 21:27 by Quizman Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 06/07/2012 at 21:46 #33702 | |
Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
Am a bit surprised that it's going to be so long to finish as they seem to be getting along quite nicely the moment. Three sections in place and many of the supports heading off towards Letchworth now erected. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 07/07/2012 at 08:17 #33706 | |
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Tallington
254 posts |
Peter, I believe the quoted date of March 2014 is to be another 'eureka' day! It is the end of CP4 when the money has to be spent by! It is the start of full use of the Joint GN/GE Line Werrington to Doncaster for ALL freight. It is the date I have for full completion of my bypass Whoops - rail bridge and link roads :) It will herald the passenger only services on the ECML between those points (an extra 4 trains an hour!) Hence the need to get the Hitchen Flyover out of the way before then.... Ken Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 07/07/2012 at 08:34 #33707 | |
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Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
So it might be finished earlier then...... At the rate they are going it looks like the flyover will be finished before the platform extensions which are due to be used from this December..... Building is painfully slow, they have people at Biggleswade everyday working [sic] on them but generally that work entails standing around looking at the lack of progress and nodding sagely. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 08/07/2012 at 08:53 #33725 | |
58050
2659 posts 
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Like the sarcasm Peter. Somethings don't change when it comes to railway work. But I suspect these days its all sub-contracted. Maybe they would have faired better getting Plasmor involved as they have a depot at Biggleswade next to the station.
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| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 08/07/2012 at 09:24 #33726 | |
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Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
Perhaps I should take a daily photo and do one of these NR type videos showing the progress. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 09/07/2012 at 11:56 #33757 | |
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metcontrol
227 posts |
Letchworth was just as slow to extend, and even now the full 12-car length still cannot be used. On the subject of the fly-over, it remains to be seen who this will really advantage. My money is East Coast being the "winner" as the length of time taken to traverse the new chord to Letchworth will probably be similar to waiting for the junction now. There'll be less conflicts, but journey time for us on the branch is unlikely to see any improvement. Mind you, Hitchin to Baldock used to take 5 minutes when I was a boy. Now it's anything upto 10 minutes. Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 09/07/2012 at 19:24 #33765 | |
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Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
From memory of a few months ago the platforms extensions at Letchworth are quite smart and in keeping with the original platforms and station buildings, presumably at the insistence of the Garden City Corporation. Whereas it looks like ours will be like the concrete eyesore that is Arlesey. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 09/07/2012 at 19:25 #33766 | |
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Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
Oh and it looks like section 4 of the fly-over has been delivered, awaiting installation this evening. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 09/07/2012 at 19:32 #33768 | |
GeoffM
6376 posts
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" said:On the subject of the fly-over, it remains to be seen who this will really advantage. My money is East Coast being the "winner" as the length of time taken to traverse the new chord to Letchworth will probably be similar to waiting for the junction now. There'll be less conflicts, but journey time for us on the branch is unlikely to see any improvement. Mind you, Hitchin to Baldock used to take 5 minutes when I was a boy. Now it's anything upto 10 minutes.I doubt the journey time would be much different either way. But the number of paths through the area will increase for both divergees (hey, new word!) towards Royston and those on the fasts. Theoretically more trains to Cambridge, all other factors aside. SimSig Boss Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 09/07/2012 at 19:35 #33769 | |
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Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
" said:Theoretically more trains to Cambridge, all other factors aside.They already get preferential treatment over us. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 09/07/2012 at 21:07 #33774 | |
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metcontrol
227 posts |
Yes Cambridge gets preferential treatment over the whole Great Northern network. More paths available will mean more trains that pass through places like Baldock. I'm not bitter in the slightest... 
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| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 21/08/2012 at 18:09 #35080 | |
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Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
Flyover update: There are now 10 flyover sections in place and the support piers and junction approach on the Down side are well advanced. Biggleswade update: a few platform edge slabs are in place on the Down side Down end- yipee it's beginning to look like something might happen one day. On a rather more bizarre front though I noticed that the opposite platform edges appear to be staggered so I thought I'd have a look at the plans. I accessed Central Beds planning portal and did a search to no avail. Emailed the Council to ask what I was doing wrong and it transpires that this is the first they new of the development and there had been no application as far as they knew. Now whether special rules apply to the railways or not I don't know but the chap has escalated the matter for further enquiries to be made! Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 21/08/2012 at 19:03 #35087 | |
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58050
2659 posts
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Excellent Peter, you may have un-earthed a potential hornets nest with Network Rail 
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| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 21/08/2012 at 20:25 #35088 | |
jc92
3685 posts |
I was led to beleive a railway could build as it wishes on railway owned property granted by an act of parliament. im thinking of kingswear "signalbox" as an example. however it depends if the flyover has been built on new ground. of course i may be completely incorrect! "We don't stop camborne wednesdays" Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 21/08/2012 at 20:35 #35089 | |
headshot119
4869 posts |
" said:I was led to beleive a railway could build as it wishes on railway owned property granted by an act of parliament. im thinking of kingswear "signalbox" as an example.I certainly know you don't need planning permissions for structures such as signals. "Passengers for New Lane, should be seated in the rear coach of the train " - Opinions are my own and not those of my employer Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 21/08/2012 at 20:46 #35090 | |
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pbinnersley
431 posts |
The flyover has "deemed" planning permission from the DfT. The decission letter states: Quote: Peter. Log in to reply |
| Hitchin Fly-over 21/08/2012 at 21:52 #35093 | |
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benstafford
88 posts |
Platform extensions are permitted development of a rather less intrusive sort than the rebuild of Streatham Hill Carriage Sheds which caused much local consternation
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| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 21/08/2012 at 21:55 #35094 | |
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Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
I was referring to the Biggleswade platform extensions. Having looked up North Herts DC, Network Rail did apply for planning permission for Letchworth extensions. Notwithstanding the "deemed" planning permission for the fly-over it appears NHDC do have a record of the planning application. Anyway if and when I get any feed-back I'll let you know. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 22/08/2012 at 12:14 #35105 | |
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metcontrol
227 posts |
Flyover build progress at the Letchworth end is progressing. The majority of the chalk embankment is in place from where it will join the main line (Cambridge branch) right across the adjacent fields. A small bridge - presumably for use by the farmer who owns the fields - has been constructed, and preparations were being made yesterday to being infilling the embankment up against the bridge structure. An evening walk a week or 2 ago saw that works from where the flyover bridge over the ECML is, up until the above chalk work is fairly advanced. I know there is much to do, but it wouldn't be a surprise if the project completes quite early on. Last edited: 22/08/2012 at 12:15 by metcontrol Log in to reply |
| Hitchin Fly-over 22/08/2012 at 14:08 #35109 | |
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mfcooper
707 posts |
North of Hitchin on the mainline always seems to have a crappy service. Guess this will get worse after this. No chance of splitting/joining trains at hitchin/stevenage for more stopping trains to P'boro with less paths taken up through welwyn? Wait, that's a crazy idea... ah well. " said: ...a rather less intrusive sort than the rebuild of Streatham Hill Carriage Sheds which caused much local consternationThat was fairly impressive. My mate lives round there, and it is a little crazy. They changed some relatively quiet, fairly unlit sidings into a brightly lit toilet emptying facility for the 377's, with lights now shining into the locals windows (the sidings are in a slight cutting, so this is even more impressive!) and overnight noise whilst emptying the loo's. No planning permission sought (or required?) and locals up in arms. No idea what happened, but it still seems to be there. Last edited: 22/08/2012 at 14:08 by mfcooper Log in to reply |
| Hitchin Fly-over 22/08/2012 at 20:31 #35132 | |
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metcontrol
227 posts |
" said:North of Hitchin on the mainline always seems to have a crappy service. Guess this will get worse after this. No chance of splitting/joining trains at hitchin/stevenage for more stopping trains to P'boro with less paths taken up through welwyn? Wait, that's a crazy idea... ah well.They get the same quality of service as most of the Cambridge branch stations - 2 trains per hour during the bulk of the day, 1 fast, 1 slow. Places like Biggleswade and St Neots also get nice direct (1st or 2nd stop) services from London during the evening peak. Baldock lost this during the last timetable change. To make proper use of the new chord, they could increase services on the Cambridge route. Trouble is, I'm sure any increase would see more fasts to Cambridge 
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| Hitchin Fly-over 22/08/2012 at 20:46 #35133 | |
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Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
" said:" said:16.40 Kings Cross to Bigglswade 43miles : 29minutes, can't complain!North of Hitchin on the mainline always seems to have a crappy service. Guess this will get worse after this. No chance of splitting/joining trains at hitchin/stevenage for more stopping trains to P'boro with less paths taken up through welwyn? Wait, that's a crazy idea... ah well.Places like Biggleswade and St Neots also get nice direct (1st or 2nd stop) services from London during the evening peak. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |
| Hitchin Fly-over 22/08/2012 at 22:48 #35134 | |
postal
5264 posts |
" said:No chance of splitting/joining trains at hitchin/stevenage for more stopping trains to P'boro with less paths taken up through welwyn? Wait, that's a crazy idea... ah well.When the arts or PPE graduate civil servants who now run our railways without any engineering or real world background can decree that a join/split takes 7 minutes (otherwise the business case for their IEP falls over) there is no chance of any franchise anywhere in the UK being able to offer anything sensible like that. “In life, there is always someone out there, who won’t like you, for whatever reason, don’t let the insecurities in their lives affect yours.” – Rashida Rowe Log in to reply |
| Re: Hitchin Fly-over 29/08/2012 at 05:49 #35244 | |
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Peter Bennet
5402 posts |
" said:I was referring to the Biggleswade platform extensions. Having looked up North Herts DC, Network Rail did apply for planning permission for Letchworth extensions.Central Beds tell me that it a "Permitted development" and does not require planning permission. They got a bit shirty when I asked them to confirm that this was under the The Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) Order 1995, Schedule 2, part 17 but that looks the most likely. So all appears well. Peter I identify as half man half biscuit - crumbs! Log in to reply |