16 November (Part 1) - Greenwich and Crossrail. Obsessed with barriers
Crossrail activity yesterday was disappointingly low key and the two workers I
spoke to both confirmed that things are running seriously behind schedule. One
said there would be no track realignments over this weekend and the following pictures
are generally uninspiring.
Every local Crossrail reconnaissance must include a trip across the Eynsford
Drive bridge which for those who do not know is a very wide distinctly hump
backed affair (there used to be a level crossing on the site) providing zero visibility to the far side. I always walk to its summit so that I
can see the approaching traffic on both sides before attempting cross it. Mad to
do otherwise.
Greenwich council must be staffed by the same low grade incompetents that infest
Bexley council for they have seen fit since
my last visit
nearly a month ago to install a barrier which forces pedestrians to cross where there is no line of
sight to approaching traffic. Probably someone who did not run as fast as I did
caused someone to swerve with the result to be seen in Photo 2 above. There is a big
drop to a footpath below.
Well done The Rubbish Borough of Greenwich.
As already noted, there was nothing very exciting going on.
All the photographs below apart from the first one (looking west from Bostall
Manorway) were taken from or close to the Church Manorway footbridge. The
disabled route across the line is still blocked.
One of the drilling devices shown in Photo 6 (fourth below) was active as I approached
the Church Manorway bridge on foot and the pavement was shaking. I doubt the local householders are happy.
The tracked crane was shifting sleepers from one heap I could not see to another
equally invisible. The gate man confirmed it.
The major activity was also near invisible but the fifth and sixth photographs
immediately above may give some indication of it. A large area had been laid
with reinforcing rods presumably to be concreted over very soon. One can only
guess it will form another part of the track bed but if so it looks to be unnecessarily
wide and why first choose that location? It’s remote from the tunnel portal.
Maybe it is where the line will provide access to the extensive new train
storage facility (again I can only assume that is what it is) being built in Plumstead behind Belmarsh prison.
On past form someone more knowledgeable than I am will fill in the gaps.
All photographs taken between eleven thirty and midday 16th November 2014. Click to enlarge.
More on Crossrail later today.
Index to past Crossrail blogs.