Frogfisher - Yeah it is a bit mental. There are various other projects going on but it is hard to source pictures or updates on all of them.
East London Line Extension
A tour of some of the stations on the ELLE. Pics sourced from
londonreconnections.blogspot.com
The Train
Part of new rolling stock across the sub-surface London Underground network that will encompass walk-through carriages. It also wouldn't be London without padded fabric seats and arm-rests!
Surrey Quays
Shadwell
Notice the fine Victorian metal and brickwork remains to give the station a unique view. The station now incorporates two exits to allow for easier interchange with the DLR which runs on a viaduct above the station
Note: while the platform 1 sign mentions stops at Canonbury & Highbury & Islington these won't open until closer to 2012, the same can be said of the line running to Clapham Junction on the platform 2 sign - these will be covered up closer to opening.
Shoreditch High Street
While built above ground on a viaduct to connect with a disused viaduct which forms the link up to Dalston Junctin, the station is constructed in a giant box to allow for skyscrapers to be built above the station
Hoxton
Haggerston
Dalston Junction
The station consists of four platforms: the two central platforms allow for terminating services, while the two outer platforms will allow trains to carry on to Higbury & Islington.
ELLE Train Depot
Brunel Tunnel
Due to the nature of the East London Line Extension re-using old rail assets, there are some interesting architectural wonders to be seen on the route. One such is the Brunel Tunnel (also known as Thames Tunnel) which allows the ELLE to connect north and south London; and most would think is just a normal tunnel.
Yet this is quite possibly one of the most important tunnels known to man:
- Firstly it was the first tunnel in the world to be built under a river, something thought to be impossible, and
- Secondly it was the first tunnel in the world to use Sir Marc Isambard Brunel and Isambard Kingdom Brunels' tunneling shield technology - this is the same technology and method used in TBM's to this day
The tunnel opened in 1843 (twenty years prior to the opening of the London Underground) originally as a pedestrian tunnel, but eventually found use as part of the railway network. It has been closed for the past three years to allow for construction of the ELLE and modernisation of the network but will form part of the critical central section of the line when it opens in a few weeks time. The tunnel is now 167 years old and still working. Some lucky people including
AmyDeal at Flickr managed to get a tour of the tunnel prior to its re-opening, here are the pics:
And to get in the mood of the historic tunnel some Victorians were genetically recreated (much like dinosaurs were in the film: Jurassic Park) for the event.....
London Gateway
I suppose this is transport related as it will involve new road and rail links along the Thames Gateway.
DP World has begun work on the 7.3 km2 London Gateway which will be capable of handling the largest modern container ships and greatly expand container capacity in the UK (the result of which will allow for ships to avoid calling at Rotterdam).
Roads and rail links will be expanded to allow for up to 60 freight trains a day to serve the site. The attached distribution park will also be the largest in the UK; in total 12,000 direct jobs will be created helping to distribute goods more efficiently to the London market.
Crossrail
A cofferdam has been erected along a portion of the West India Dock at Canary Wharf to allow for water to be extracted and allow for construction to begin on the 4 tunnel portals and station foundations. Water has been removed and this is what you are left with once a dock has been drained;
Pics sourced by gegloma01 at SSC, taken by
Finkl on flickr.
Light Parade at SSC also managed to get some pics taken of the sites at Tottenham Court Road that will allow for roads to be diverted so that the new ticket hall and entrances can be constructed.
Unfortunately the following buildings are going to be demolished to make way for the Dean Street entrance which is due east of Tottenham Court Road (ie closer to Oxford Circus)
