PERMANENT WAY
The connection between the Up and Down Slow lines was removed during the earlier April blockade.
“During the consecutive weekends from 25- 28 we take out the S&C from the Down Slow to the Up Fast, and then from the Up Fast to the Down Fast, and we’re doing those in slightly extended sessions,” Nixon told us. “So the type of work we are doing right now is very tight. That is certainly the next big challenge.”
Off the back of completing the Central Ladder, a lot of the WCML team’s work will be delivering the work required ahead of the signalling commissioning at Christmas.
Troubled weather
Even though the upgrade team managed to hand back the WCML on time during the August works (unlike the May bank holiday, when Network Rail had to apologise for a late handback that disrupted train services), it wasn’t always plain sailing and calm waters for the teams.
Nixon highlighted that during the bank holiday takeover there was torrential rain at Watford, which required Network Rail to bring in some additional teams to support them with the welding of the South Junction.
“The welding took us considerably longer than we had programmed,” he said. “But through collaboration between Siemens, the guys who
were providing the S&C support, and Colas, the track team, we managed to further integrate their programme to actually cut down the amount of time it took to put the railway back together.”
RTM was told that during the three weekends of work, the amount of collaborative working between Siemens, Colas and Network Rail has been “impressive” to see.
On top of the weather-related issues, one of the trains delivering materials for the North Junction work was temporarily out of action with an over-heated axle.
“It was quite a stressful time, when you’re waiting for a train that is carrying your resources – on a tight programme of work – and it is going to be delayed,” Nixon stated.
“Thankfully, the train was repaired quickly and – although we had to change how we were going to deliver the programme – we still finished the works on time.”
Rollin on to Christmas commissioning During December,
from
cabinets and running out the cabling,” Nixon told us. “So there is a lot of work between now and Christmas to make sure that the signalling team is in a position to commission the new signalling into Wembley.”
Looking beyond Christmas and into 2015, the team will have two weekends in February to carry out track renewals at Watford North Junction, and then in April the renewal of Orphanage Road Bridge and the completion of track works at Watford North Junction will be carried out.
But without looking that far ahead, Nixon said, in his view, the biggest risk to the programme’s timeframe was always how the team delivered the August works – so the month was a big success overall.
“This was because we were going from a pretty big blockade to [just] three weekends. It all had to be delivered in sequence, so anything that was delayed could have caused major knock- on effects, which would have required further disruptive access,” he said.
Christmas Day
until 29 December, the WCML team will be faced with the commissioning of the newly installed signalling system, with control being transferred to Wembley Signalling Centre.
“However, before then, there are obviously lots of signal barriers we are having to install,
“I think we’ve done
well and got the major pinch-points delivered in August.”
John Nixon
opinion@railtechnologymagazine.com TELL US WHAT YOU THINK
rail technology magazine Aug/Sep 14 | 97
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