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News and Comment November 2014

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16 November (Part 1) - Greenwich and Crossrail. Obsessed with barriers

Crossrail Crossrail 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.

Crossrail Crossrail Crossrail Crossrail

Crossrail Crossrail Crossrail Crossrail

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.

 

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