Dom K
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Post by Dom K on Jul 20, 2015 18:43:42 GMT
I use this section daily, so thought I'd start a thread dedicated to updates.
Today 20th July, at Lea Bridge Station, they have taking alot of the northbound fencing and started demolishing the buildings behind it (closest to the bridge)
On the southbound the platform end nearest he bridge has had about 20ft of the platform removed. Behind this platform they have cleared alot of space
No more to report
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Post by snoggle on Jul 20, 2015 22:35:22 GMT
Based on comments on the London Reconnections blog it seems that STAR has been pared back to a "do minimum" scope. Apparently it will be single track throughout meaning one extra train is needed to run a half hourly service on the extra tracks. The balance of the x15 minute service will be provided by the existing Greater Anglia service. This may require a rejig of the mainline service to allow the GA trains to call at N Park and the relocated Angel Road station. At present this doesn't happen - trains call at one or the other but not both. People travelling northbound from T Hale to either N Park or Angel Road will have two separate platforms to choose from. I suspect that the extra track will have a platform face alongside the existing s/b platforms. Apparently whatever work is done will be designed to allow a further track and platforms to be added. I confess to being disappointed that T Hale will seemingly not be put into a final state with 4 tracks and 4 platforms. This means yet more reworking in the future and more disruption after the upcoming rebuild of the station to create the new ticket hall. As a side note I see TfL have applied for planning permission (ref HGY/2015/1737) to build six retail units in the space beside the bus drivers crew building at T Hale. This will block the taxi stand from view if you're in the bus station area. Apparently TfL consider the area is "somewhat barren and does not provide an appropriately lively welcome to users of this busy interchange" and needs some shops complete with glowing translucent ceilings (I kid you not). Yep what we all need when catching a train or a bus is "a lively welcome".   |
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Post by stapler on Jul 21, 2015 9:21:51 GMT
What tosh ["somewhat barren"], Snoggle (not from you but from TFL). All TFL want is the rent
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Post by snoggle on Jul 21, 2015 10:49:37 GMT
What tosh ["somewhat barren"], Snoggle (not from you but from TFL). All TFL want is the rent The irony, of course, is that TfL themselves remodelled Tottenham Hale and thereby created "the somewhat barren" area. While the old bus station area had its faults it involved rather less walking to reach the buses and certainly wasn't "barren". I'm never really convinced by concepts like "town squares" (as used for the paved area between station entrances and the bus stops at T Hale) when the place isn't a town! It's simply a transport interchange with shops, business units and a retail park set back from it. There's lots of footfall but no intrinsic attraction at the "town square" and why would there be? You're right that this is another example of TfL desperately wanting rental income and yet their remodelling plans at the tube station seem to involve evicting the newsagent and there's no obvious replacement unit for him in such a good location [1]. So they boot out their long standing tenant and I bet he won't be able to afford the rent in one of these new units. It'll be poncy cafes and £10 pulled pork sandwich shops instead - that's evident from the artists impressions of the remodelled station. They want some sort of cafe / restaurant where the bin store currently is. [1] based on looking at the plans for the revamped station. |
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Post by norbitonflyer on Jul 21, 2015 12:18:51 GMT
their remodelling plans at the tube station seem to involve evicting the newsagent and there's no obvious replacement unit for him in such a good location [1]. So they boot out their long standing tenant and I bet he won't be able to afford the rent in one of these new units. Exactly what happened at my local station - booted out the resident local newsagent, gave a lease on a dark corner to a large national chain (no names, no pack drill, parodied by WS Gilbert in HMS Pinafore) which pulled out after 18 months leaving no newsagent (and therefore no Oyster sales point) on the station at all. |
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Post by John Tuthill on Jul 21, 2015 13:06:39 GMT
their remodelling plans at the tube station seem to involve evicting the newsagent and there's no obvious replacement unit for him in such a good location [1]. So they boot out their long standing tenant and I bet he won't be able to afford the rent in one of these new units. Exactly what happened at my local station - booted out the resident local newsagent, gave a lease on a dark corner to a large national chain (no names, no pack drill, parodied by WS Gilbert in HMS Pinafore) which pulled out after 18 months leaving no newsagent (and therefore no Oyster sales point) on the station at all. And at Surbiton. A WH Smith cubicle on the up platforms thats been there for ever; they pulled out years ago, a local took it on, opened only during morning rush, now he's packed up because of the rent hike! |
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Post by theblackferret on Jul 21, 2015 13:33:05 GMT
Hmm-wonder if they will be relocating all these displaced newsagents to Lea Bridge? After all, no surer way of giving people a lively welcome there than having a newsagents every 10 yards or so. Dom KDid anyone give you an appropriately lively welcome at Lea Bridge, or did you keep the camera firmly in your pocket, thus postponing it? |
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Post by jukes on Jul 21, 2015 16:19:07 GMT
It was always the intention to do just one additional track first as far north as Angel Road with the second track following on later combined with four-tracking north to Cheshunt. This however, may be overtaken (pardon the pun) by Crossrail 2.
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Dom K
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Post by Dom K on Jul 21, 2015 17:24:00 GMT
Hmm-wonder if they will be relocating all these displaced newsagents to Lea Bridge? After all, no surer way of giving people a lively welcome there than having a newsagents every 10 yards or so. Dom KDid anyone give you an appropriately lively welcome at Lea Bridge, or did you keep the camera firmly in your pocket, thus postponing it? No pictures yet. I can try if members wish |
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Chris M
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Post by Chris M on Jul 21, 2015 18:53:04 GMT
This member wishes  |
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Dom K
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Post by Dom K on Jul 21, 2015 20:05:11 GMT
This member wishes Will have to be from the train obviously! Who knows might be part of a future quiz question! |
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Dom K
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Post by Dom K on Jul 22, 2015 8:46:13 GMT
So work was continuing on the site today. I took alot of pictures with my fast camera app (highly recommended). The app store is experiencing technical difficulties as you maybe already aware, so will have to wait to download true Flickr app
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Dom K
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Post by Dom K on Jul 22, 2015 23:19:49 GMT
I have some pictures on my Flickr account. However I don't know how to link from my iPhone to here
Anyone have ideas?
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Dom K
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Post by Dom K on Jul 23, 2015 8:17:18 GMT
So does anyone know how to link to your Flickr account when you have the app?
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Dom K
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The future is bright
Posts: 1,831
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Post by Dom K on Jul 23, 2015 19:45:49 GMT
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Post by theblackferret on Jul 23, 2015 19:48:02 GMT
It works-thanks for the photos. |
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Post by snoggle on Jul 29, 2015 20:33:16 GMT
I went past Lea Bridge today on a AGA train. Several interesting things spotted.
1. The site beside Argall Avenue is now hoarded off with a large "kink" where the station ticket hall / entrance will be constructed.
2. Platform surface area cleared.
3. The former sb freight track that ran behind the sb platform has also been cleared behind the platform and for a long way south.
4. The old staircases from Lea Bridge Rd to the platforms have been demolished.
5. A site area and access road is being constructed off Orient Way right beside the top edge of Temple Mills sidings. This was the most surprising aspect of the scheme - I didn't expect that's where all the activity would be. I am wondering if it will later become the site office location for later STAR works.
Sorry no photos from the train - window was too dirty but I might have a wander on foot and see what I can get.
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Post by stapler on Jul 29, 2015 20:42:08 GMT
Isn't it Argall WAY from which the stn will be accessed.
Why are they clearing the old up goods trackbed, do you think?
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Post by snoggle on Jul 29, 2015 22:00:00 GMT
Isn't it Argall WAY from which the stn will be accessed. Why are they clearing the old up goods trackbed, do you think? Yes it is Argall Way. I made an error. Well the trackbed has to be filled in to give access between the platform and the new entrance. I rather suspect they're making sure the entire area is clear of any old cables, pipes, invasive plants or seeds etc before building new. South of the station I think it's simply for site access so they haven't got people going back and forth across Lea Bridge Rod which is often congested there. Having the site compound south of the worksite gives them a storage area and site access to half of the station - the one with more construction work required. Obviously that's all guess work on my part so you can place whatever weight you want on it. |
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Post by stapler on Jul 30, 2015 10:19:27 GMT
Thanks Snoggle. Are they refurbing the old platforms, or removing them and putting in new?
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Post by snoggle on Jul 30, 2015 11:03:07 GMT
Thanks Snoggle. Are they refurbing the old platforms, or removing them and putting in new? My understanding is that they are refurbishing them. I saw some paperwork online that the project team had sought and obtained some waivers from RSSB standards and that was because the old platform structures are being reused not replaced. |
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Post by stapler on Jul 30, 2015 16:25:35 GMT
DDA compliance of the down platform with the entrance off the up side in Argall Way will be interesting
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Post by snoggle on Aug 18, 2015 19:26:55 GMT
Went past the station site today on the Vic Line RRS "B". Grabbed a few snaps from the bus as we passed by. I believe some people wanted to see photos of what is going on so ...... Not a lot has changed from a few weeks ago when I went past on the train. Lots of drain pipes near the site compound but no idea where they're going. Blatant plug - Photos |
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Post by melikepie on Sept 16, 2015 12:39:01 GMT
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Post by snoggle on Oct 23, 2015 23:49:51 GMT
Just found this Mayoral Decision paper about the STAR (Stratford - Angel Road) project. It sets out the current state of the project, funding quantum and sources and next steps. Seems there is now a lot of momentum behind this project because of the political need to show progress on housing development / improving Tottenham / improving access to employment. In short there is money to progress the NR GRIP procedure through to implementation. Some signalling kit is being bought early and pre-emptive works to declutter the planned track alignment (shifting signalling cabinets etc) is planned for early next year. |
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Dom K
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Post by Dom K on Oct 29, 2015 9:37:39 GMT
Update
Some of the southbound (eastbound?) platform has had some construction done. Will take a pic when I can. Wasn't expecting the progress I saw this morning
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Post by arun on Oct 29, 2015 10:39:23 GMT
Is there any more information on whether a SE chord at Coppermill Junction linking the Chingford to Liverpool Street line to Stratford will be built?
Arun
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Post by snoggle on Oct 29, 2015 11:08:55 GMT
Is there any more information on whether a SE chord at Coppermill Junction linking the Chingford to Liverpool Street line to Stratford will be built? Arun There are no plans to reinstate the chord. TfL are not promoting that link. The only time it appeared recently in any documentation was the "Anglia Connectivity" consultation document issued by Network Rail. I doubt, given NR's financial woes, that anything in that document will be pursued at any time in the next decade, if not longer. Sorry - I'd love to have a Chingford - Stratford service ASAP but there is no great political momentum behind the scheme nor any great development opportunities to help fund it. |
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Post by arun on Oct 29, 2015 12:57:11 GMT
That seems rather odd Snoggle - Surely part of the business case for reopening Lea Bridge was to increase the flow from Walthamstow Central to Stratford City without increasing the number of buses operating from Walthamstow going around Whipps Cross and down the chronically narrow Leytonstone High Road towards Stratford.
Arun
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Post by snoggle on Oct 29, 2015 13:49:36 GMT
That seems rather odd Snoggle - Surely part of the business case for reopening Lea Bridge was to increase the flow from Walthamstow Central to Stratford City without increasing the number of buses operating from Walthamstow going around Whipps Cross and down the chronically narrow Leytonstone High Road towards Stratford. Arun No, my understanding is that the main objective of Lea Bridge is to give people living in that part of Leyton quick access to either Stratford or T Hale for onward connections to wherever the employment opportunities are. There was no suggestion about replacing part of the local bus network to Walthamstow. See what the press notice below says as it expresses the Council's expectation. No mention of Walthamstow Central in that! You will note the "credibility stretching" comments about access to Europe via Stratford given no Eurostar services stop at Stratford International. You will also note the apparent desire to see "more development" in the area and to create "Leyton Village" (ugh). The one point that isn't made very strongly is the access that Lea Bridge station will provide to the large number of businesses nearby at Argall Way. I expect some employees working there will find the train service helpful and even better when STAR is completed. Waltham Forest Council press notice |
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