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BOMBARDIER, MOVIA, ELECTROSTAR, AVENTRA ELECTROSTAR, BOMBARDIER, MOVIA, Welcome CONTENTS ondon Mayor unveiled scale economic growth and regeneration DLR at 30 his draft Transport Strategy in June - the £1.2 billion Northern Line Extension RAIL celebrates three decades that firmly places new transport to , where more than £9bn is being 44of . Linfrastructure as the cornerstone of invested to convert the previously semi- London’s future prosperity and world status. derelict into new Looking ahead over the next 25 flats and offices. RAIL is granted rare access Getting more for less years, it argues that a steady pipeline of to the face of excavations and the Taylor Woodrow’s impressive enhancements, including extensions to the main works site on p68-72. 52Underground feats. and Docklands Light Next in the pipeline of future Railway (DLR), will help create 1.2 million enhancements, and most certainly top Open access more jobs by 2041, while supporting the of the list in terms of both engineering TfL’s smart and simple construction of 50,000 much-needed new scale and price tag, is , which accessibility solutions. homes each year. could open by 2033 if it gets the go-ahead 54 That is not to mention providing relief to by Government. For a progress report on existing capacity, as London’s population how plans for the £30bn-plus project is London legacy is expected to rise from 8.7 million to 10.5 developing, RAIL speaks exclusively to SNC-Lavalin enjoys increased million over the next 25 years. Crossrail 2’s Managing Director Michèle As a global leader in rail technology, Bombardier helps to keep London 56demand in the capital. There is of course much precedent of Dix on p58-63. moving, on one of the busiest and most complex transport networks in transport - and rail in particular - enabling MOVIA this type of significant economic growth, PAUL STEPHEN Crossrail 2 the world. Our metro trains on London Underground’s Victoria and readers need look no further than the Assistant Features Editor, RAIL Crossrail 2 MD Michèle Dix and Sub-Surface lines and our ELECTROSTAR vehicles on London DLR, which has played a crucial role in 58speaks exclusively to RAIL. Overground transport thousands every day. regenerating long-neglected parts of east London and establishing Canary Wharf as EDITORIAL Devoted to DLR a global financial centre, ever since its first Managing Editor: Nigel Harris How Bombardier’s rolling For the Elizabeth line, , East Anglia and South passenger services ran in August 1987. Assistant Editor: Richard Clinnick RAIL looks back at 30 years of operations Contributing Writers: Stefanie 64stock has made its mark. Western projects, we are delivering state-of-the-art trains based on on DLR, during which time ridership Foster, Andrew Mourant our new AVENTRA product family. With Bombardier’s latest trains and has grown 18-fold from 6.7 million in its Production Editor: Mike Wright Art Editor: Charles Wrigley Compatible upgrade technology offering market-leading performance, we are driving first year to 122 million in 2016-17, while Siemens Rail Automation helps speaking to both Sub-Editor: Richard Hampson Managing Director: Tim Lucas to transform the . The Evolution of Mobility. and operator KeolisAmey Docklands about 66 how the DLR has become one of the UK’s highest performing railways (p44-51). ADVERTISING Down the Tube Account Director: Julie Howard To the southwest of the City, another RAIL reports from the Northern transport scheme is underpinning large- 68Line Extension’s tunnel face. #WeMoveCities

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FP_RAIL_345101id3111495.pdf 08.08.2017 16:28 LONDON SPECIAL

A DLR service arrives at Canary Wharf on August 22 2015 in the shadow of global investment bank Citigroup’s EMEA headquarters at 25 Canada Square. ANTONY GUPPY. DLR at Three decades after it carried its first fare-paying passengers, PAUL STEPHEN asks Transport for London’s Director of DLR DANNY PRICE how the Docklands Light Railway plans to maintain its enviable status 30 as one of the UK’s highest performing railways

hen Her Majesty the Queen which became DLR’s primary depot when it officially opened East opened in 1994. 30 THINGS TO London’s Docklands Light Well-known for its largely elevated route DO BY DLR WRailway on July 30 1987, few and fully automated ‘driverless’ operation, could have imagined the extent to which the DLR passengers can enjoy uninterrupted To mark the 30th anniversary of network would grow. views of Dockland’s rapidly evolving urban DLR, TfL has released a travel guide Initially just eight miles long, the DLR landscape, on a self-contained network with showing visitor attractions around comprised 15 stations, served by a fleet of 11 near-perfect punctuality. East London accessible via DLR, single-car electric multiple units, based at a Operated and maintained by KeolisAmey including London Docklands Museum, small depot in Poplar. Thirty years later and Docklands (KAD) on behalf of Transport Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and it has undergone six extensions, and now for London (TfL) since 2014, 99.5% of DLR the Royal Observatory Greenwich. serves 45 stations on 24 miles of track. trains ran on time between May 28-June 24, It can be downloaded by visiting: Passenger numbers have also risen this year with a moving annual average of http://content.tfl.gov.uk/dlr30- considerably, from 6.7 million in DLR’s first 99.2%. Meanwhile, 89% of passengers said leaflet-and-map.pdf year of operation to 122 million in 2016-17, they felt satisfied at the end of their journeys served by today’s fleet of 56 Bombardier-built in the latest satisfaction survey. and mainly three-car trains. Comprising 149 “DLR has a really exciting history, with Danny Price. “Passenger volume is now 18 individual vehicles, the fleet is now based at an extension opened on average every four times that of its first year, there are 13 times Poplar, and also at a larger site in Beckton, years up to 2011,” says TfL’s DLR Director as many trains, and the fact that it’s grown with investment [in the areas it serves] makes it an unmitigated success story. “Of its many successes, its biggest is that it has maintained very high levels of reliability, and really high levels of customer feedback. It’s always had good engagement with local users and visitors, while satisfaction scores are high and social media feedback is generally positive. I think the backbone of that throughout has been the 99% performance railway.” The DLR was first conceived in the early 1980s as a catalyst in regenerating parts of the East End of London which had become economically depressed following the closure of the Royal Docks to commercial shipping in 1980. At the time, Margaret Thatcher’s government was actively supporting efforts by newly established quango London Dockland Development Corporation to tempt large companies to relocate to the Docklands area, and it saw the DLR as a cheaper alternative to extending London Underground’s . A £77m contract was subsequently The DLR is opened by Her Majesty the Queen on July 30 1987, aboard DLR 011. The first agreed in August 1982, with a joint venture passenger service would run a month later on August 31. TRANSPORT FOR LONDON. comprising GEC and Mowlam for

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construction to begin in 1985 on three car opened from the Greenwich peninsula routes between Tower Gateway, Island COMMENT: FORMER TFL RAIL MD AND to Royal Victoria Dock, a project delivered by Gardens and Stratford that intersected at TfL’s DLR team. Poplar. DLR CHAIRMAN HOWARD SMITH Price adds: “There were a far fewer people By providing direct access between the “The thing that everyone involved ‘Docklands Light Ropeway’, as it was in Canary Wharf in those days (1987), but Government-designated urban enterprise with the DLR talks of is the ‘can do’ christened by some! success has to be borne from somewhere zone at Canary Wharf and , culture, in which it’s grown from an “In successfully pioneering moving and DLR delivered. In a way, it was the the DLR paved the way for construction embarrassingly underspecified and block signalling, near-universal lifeblood of Canary Wharf, because its work to begin on a new financial centre for rather unreliable service at the start stakeholder support, a record rail workforce relied on it so much at the time. the capital to complement the Square Mile, to a vital part of the spectacular market share from a brilliantly located “Canary Wharf was a real case of ‘build and its first major buildings were completed regeneration of East London. It station at City Airport, and its efficient, it and they will come’. And DLR was in the in 1991, including the UK’s second tallest provides near-faultless service, cost-effective operations, the DLR has right place at the right time. building, One Canada Square. day in, day out and carried half a taught lessons that go far beyond East “Today, passenger numbers continue More than 150,000 people now work at million passengers a day as a trusted London, both in terms of organisational to grow, which raises the threat of Canary Wharf, in two million square metres centrepiece of the 2012 Olympic learning and the DLR ethos that has overcrowding. Our primary objective is to of office space, where a conglomeration of Games. spread throughout the world. A largely continue delivering that 99% railway. Plans brokers, investment managers, insurance “The extensions to Lewisham, self-contained operation divorced for some great new rolling stock have now companies, hedge funds management firms , Woolwich and from some of the distractions - and gone out to tender, and we’re still adding and currency exchanges have turned it into a Stratford rank as some of the most occasional madness - of the wider capacity at stations such as Custom House to global command centre for the international rapidly developed and cost- networks has provided a make sure that we address crowding levels trade of financial and professional services. effective rail infrastructure real chance for talented as they rise.” Canary Wharf is also home to two of the anywhere in Europe, people to show what they How DLR will cater for growing demand world’s largest banks, HSBC and Barclays. It delivered by a hugely can do - and have enormous was outlined in the Sadiq is now also served by the Jubilee Line since talented team that ran a fun while doing so! Khan’s draft Transport Strategy published in its Millennium Extension in 1999, and will ‘production line’ of projects, “Happy birthday DLR, June (RAIL 832). It proposed the DLR’s first soon be served by Crossrail, once a station from walking the route, and here’s to even greater physical expansion since 2011 by extending opens there on its Abbey Wood branch in through planning, delivery glories - and further from Gallions Reach to Thamesmead via December 2018. and operation - eventually expansion - in the coming a new Thames river crossing, while also Transport links were further boosted in including a cable car - the decades!” confirming a requirement for new rolling June 2012 when the Emirates Air Line cable stock by 2022. It says that 43 new trains are needed to enable 33 of DLR’s oldest B90 and B92 stock DLR 016 passes DLR 019 at Heron Quays on June 29 1994. The station re-opened trains to be withdrawn, and to strengthen approximately 200 metres further south from here in 2002 as part of the DLR services across the Royal Docks area, which capacity enhancement project to facilitate three-car running. PAUL BIGLAND. has been earmarked for 25,000 new homes and 60,000 new jobs. The trains will have walk-through carriages, which will increase capacity by 30%. The new layout obviates the need for longer trains, which would have required costly upgrades to infrastructure. They’ll also feature air conditioning - a first for DLR - plus mobile device charging points and real- time passenger information; the contract is Beckton depot opened in March 1994 on the site of the former Beckton Gas Works, and will undergo further expansion to accommodate new rolling stock that will enter traffic in expected to be awarded in summer 2018. 2022. ANTONY GUPPY. “We’re really pleased that the Mayor’s draft Transport Strategy shows an extension to Thamesmead. I suppose it’s quite a small of developments and thousands of new So a new colour-coded map of the DLR extension compared to previous ones, but homes and jobs that are expected. New has just been launched on trains and station DLR is now quite a significant railway. It’s infrastructure and capacity are very much boards to make it easier to find popular extremely important that we maintain it needed.” destinations, such as the ExCel exhibition properly, run it effectively and sustain its Price says that DLR will also be employing centre, and provide clearer interchange exemplary performance. other methods of increasing capacity by information. “New rolling stock will increase capacity improving the flow of passengers, and in Coping with the capacity crunch brings by 30%, particularly important in meeting particular the 25% of people who use DLR with it two additional challenges, as Price the growing demand for journeys to London for leisure, perhaps experiencing DLR for the acknowledges the inherent difficulties of City Airport and also the huge number first time. replacing elements of the fleet without having any knock-on effect on reliability and current service provision. How Crossrail will affect DLR is also not fully understood, with interfaces between In a way, it was the lifeblood DLR and Elizabeth Line services at Canary Wharf, Custom House, West India Quay and of Canary Wharf, because its Stratford. Price is optimistic, because the DLR workforce relied on it so team have 30 years of predicting and accommodating new passenger flows, plus much at the time. the experience of the 2012 Olympic Games, Danny Price, Director of DLR, TfL during which an unprecedented 12

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million passengers were carried by DLR. “Reliability and departure to schedule TIMELINE scores are over 99% and we’re very proud of that, but there’s no complacency there. JULY 30 1987 We have a stock of trains, built in 1992, DLR opened by HM The Queen that need replacing, but we still need to AUG 31 1987 maintain reliability while the old trains are First passenger service runs being taken out of service. It takes quite a lot of planning and collaboration with KAD AUG 1988 (KeolisAmey Docklands), our operator and 6.7 million passengers carried by maintainer of the system. DLR in its first year “In the short term, with Crossrail, you JUL 29 1991 could look at it from the perspective that Extension opened to Bank some of the passenger volume gets taken away from DLR [as passengers switch to 1992 23 B90 units enter service using Elizabeth Line services], but what you get instead is people utilising DLR in MAR 28 1994 a different way. You’ve got some different Extension opened between Poplar dynamic operational challenges there, which and Beckton, where new depot opens we’ve modelled, and with that there are 1995 some station upgrades taking place so we’re 47 B92 units enter service ready for them. “The Olympic Games left us with a legacy 1996 Annual ridership reaches 16m of planning and applying the right methods DLR 04 approaches West India Quay on August 18 1989. It is one of DLR’s original 11 single-car to prepare for big events. If you’ve handled trains, known as P86 stock. Built by Linke-Hofmann-Busch (now Alstom), the stock was sold APR 6 1997 Canary Wharf station is pictured on December 6 1991, less than a month since opening. The something as big as the Olympics, you can and moved to Essen, Germany, in 1991, as the vehicles did not meet safety regulations needed Docklands Railway Management Ltd six-platform station was not ready in time for the DLR’s official opening in August 1987, after it apply that experience to anything.” to run in DLR’s newly built tunnelled extension to Bank. D. PYE/COLOUR RAIL. becomes franchise operator, owned was realised that demand had been considerably underestimated and station plans would have He adds: “The Olympics aside, we carried by Serco to be revised. COLOUR RAIL. out the modelling for the six extensions, so we’ve seen lots of trend changes and have approach, in November 2016 DLR and KAD reacted to that. Most of those trend changes achieved certification to BS 11000, the British NOV 22 1999 have been relatively gradual. But, as I said, Standard for Collaborative Relationships. Lewisham extension opened FROM THE OPERATOR: much of the legacy from 2012 is about “I think it’s absolutely critical that we have 1999 planning for things, not reacting to them.” been such good partners since December Annual ridership reaches 29m KEVIN THOMAS, MANAGING DIRECTOR OF KEOLISAMEY DOCKLANDS Price says he’s confident in the strength 2014. The two senior teams are completely 2002 of TfL’s relationship with KAD, which took aligned on agreed objectives to deliver 24 B2K stock units enter service “Commencing on December to make the DLR more accessible, providing mobility to more over operations and maintenance from Serco service excellence for our customers on a 7 2014, we are now well people than ever before. in December 2014 in a contract that will run daily basis. DEC 2 2005 into our third year as “Transport for London is one of the largest transport bodies until 2021 at the earliest. “That is what completely underpins how London City Airport extension opens franchise operator and are in the world; it is a good client with big aspirations. The DLR is In formal recognition of this partnership DLR delivers for TfL, as opposed to 2006 responsible for the operation an iconic, high-performance railway and we are very proud to Annual ridership reaches 60m of all services, along with the be trusted to run the DLR on its behalf. With Keolis and Amey maintenance of rolling stock as the parent companies of this franchise, we can draw on a Getting the BS 11000 standard in MAY 2006 and infrastructure assets. vast range of expertise within these organisations to share best New franchise awarded to Serco “The franchise is very practice from their global operations. collaboration was a significant achievement. Docklands collaborative in nature and “This has helped us to deliver exceptional levels of I don’t think many of these were awarded 2009 we have a strong relationship performance, consistently above 99% and achieving beyond 55 B07 stock units enter service with Docklands Light Railway 99.5% more recently. We have achieved record levels of Limited, with which we share customer satisfaction for the DLR and we’re introducing new in the rail industry. JAN 12 2009 a joint strategy and vision of initiatives to improve this even further. Such achievements can Danny Price, Director of DLR, TfL Extension opened to Woolwich delivering service excellence every day. only help strengthen the DLR’s reputation for excellence and Arsenal “We work closely together to ensure customers receive the best practice. AUG 31 2011 best service and customer experience possible, and to build “Our experience at the DLR is also helping Keolis and Amey, Extension opened to Stratford upon the reputation of the DLR as a very high-performance by sharing best practice from such an iconic railway. Members International railway. With demand rising year on year, we have experienced of our team are able to provide information and experience that JUL 27-AUG 12 2012 more than a 10% increase in passenger journeys in our first contribute to bids for other transport contracts, for example 12m passengers carried during two years of this franchise. This makes DLR the sixth busiest the recent successful bid for the Manchester Metrolink system London Olympic Games railway in the UK, carrying over 122 million passengers in (KeolisAmey Metrolink), which began in July this year. 2016-17. “The DLR is at the heart of developments in east London. It DEC 7 2014 “None of this would be possible without the team of people plays a key role in the ongoing regeneration of the area, which KeolisAmey Docklands becomes we have working here - they are a key feature of the DLR is contributing to the continuing increase in residential and franchise operator success story. There is a real sense of unity with a dedication commercial populations. This shows no sign of slowing down, APR 2017 to the community and railway, which is evidenced by the great and long may it continue, together with the benefits for local Annual ridership reaches 122m levels of passion and pride that I see every day. people. “Our team of community ambassadors also play an “The success and expansion of the DLR over the last JUN 21 2017 important role, working with our local communities and helping 30 years has shown how integral transport can be to its London Mayor’s draft Transport people to get around on the DLR. They carry out 10,000 communities and the legacy it can provide for an area - and the Strategy confirms replacement rolling stock project and extension to accessibility trips each year, hold open days and attend local next 30 years look to be just as exciting. On behalf of the whole Thamesmead events to give travel advice and answer questions; all intended KAD team, I wish DLR a very happy 30th birthday.” The DLR’s Automatic Train Control (ATC) system is controlled from a central control room at Beckton, using moving block signalling. ANTONY GUPPY.

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having separate objectives and hoping The scene at Prince Regent on August 10, where DLR trains arrive and depart beneath a British Airways plane taking off they align. Getting the BS 11000 standard AUGUST 31 1987 REMEMBERED: ANTHONY from London City Airport. To the left, work continues on the in collaboration was also quite a significant approach to Connaught Tunnel beneath the Royal Docks on achievement. I don’t think many of these SMITH, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF TRANSPORT FOCUS Crossrail’s south-eastern branch to Abbey Wood, due to were awarded in the rail industry, and it “Always keen to try out something the tunnel at Greenwich to get home open in December 2018. ANTONY GUPPY. was certainly a first for TfL, but like any new, my friends and I were there 30 to Catford) made you realise what relationship, it requires constant work - years ago on the first day transport does best: opens particularly in operations, where things of the DLR. It seemed up opportunities for work, won’t always be plain sailing, or happen really futuristic: no driver, living and pleasure. Long as planned. It’s about how quickly you can a modern feel and new, at may the DLR continue to work together to get things resolved and a time when much else on expand and reach more having an open, honest relationship has Britain’s transport systems parts of London that certainly underpinned a lot of the good were groaning with age and used to be hard to get to. results that have been delivered. wear. Going to Mudchute Passengers love it and “I chair a joint leadership team between from Tower Gateway for the the staff are great - happy KAD and my team, and I particularly enjoy first time (I walked through birthday!” discussing strategic changes, and listening to the diverse range of viewpoints. Not everyone necessarily agrees with every to do the right thing - who pays their salaries Finally, Price argues that it is DLR’s single point, so you have members of a is almost forgotten about in many meetings. integration within TfL itself that will yield combined team who genuinely challenge And the results of that approach speak for the greatest results, having been handed each other. But they’re all united in wanting themselves.” responsibility and devolved powers for all of London’s public transport between 2000-03. He says that the passenger experience can only be improved further by looking at each of TfL’s separate directorates as a whole, where the sum is greater than its parts. “From my perspective, and considering the fact that DLR sits within TfL, it’s very difficult to take the two in isolation. TfL is driving the entire strategy and if you look at the interchanges, including with river If you’ve handled something as big as the Olympics, you can apply that experience to DLR 042 departs Canary Wharf as DLR 124 arrives on April 15 in an image that perfectly anything. illustrates the subtle differences between DLR’s Bombardier-built B07 stock that entered service in July 2009 (left), and B90 stock (right) which entered service in 1992. DLR 042 will be Danny Price, Director of DLR, TfL withdrawn by 2022, when new rolling stock is scheduled to enter service. PAUL BIGLAND. services and many others, that TfL brain is particularly important to the ongoing success of DLR. “Historically, and prior to TfL’s existence, DLR focused on being a single railway serving a particular area. Today, it’s about bringing its benefits to London as a whole, via its interchanges with London Underground, heavy rail, cable cars, buses and river services. “Very few passengers use just one of these services, so making these interfaces work well is crucial, and we’re very focused on that.” ■

Further reading ■■ Automatic for the people, RAIL 358 ■■ DLR: the first 20 years, RAIL 564 ■■ Triumph of the ‘toy train’, RAIL 577 ■■ The secret to Serco’s success, RAIL 733 A selection of previous DLR coverage in RAIL. A DLR three-car train is in operation near Royal Victoria on September 24 2016. PAUL BIGLAND.

50 51 SPECIAL REPORT A PROMOTION SOLVING THE ‘MORE FOR LESS’ EQUATION Commitment and innovation are key to the success of Taylor Woodrow’s recent Underground feats, the firm’s TfL Sector Director JEZ HASKINS tells PAUL STEPHEN

n a city where Transport for London’s Says Haskins: “A focus on detail, respect, motto is ‘every journey matters’, innovation and relationships is at the heart leading civil engineering firm Taylor of our approach. The scale of these upgrades IWoodrow’s challenge is to deliver means that disruption is inevitable. Our sophisticated infrastructure upgrades while job is to come up with solutions that not simultaneously keeping Londoners on the only deliver the best value for our customer, move. but make the whole process easier on Working in joint venture with BAM passengers, traffic, residents and businesses Nuttall, the team has done just that by wherever we can.” completing the recent upgrade of Tottenham The importance of the road network Court Road Tube station, closely followed by around Tottenham Court Road Station the upgrade of Victoria Tube station, which is meant that many complex traffic due for completion in 2018. management arrangements were needed to Tottenham Court Road Tube station’s expanded ticket hall is now open Both projects are integral to increasing keep traffic moving throughout the various ahead of Elizabeth Line services beginning next year. TAYLOR WOODROW. capacity on the London Underground, which stages of the project. The team developed is experiencing strong levels of passenger and maintained close relationships growth year on year. with stakeholders, undertaking detailed Haskins explains: “The existing platform Meanwhile, over at Victoria, the station underpin large sections of the tunnel walls parties. It reduced delivery costs, mitigated It’s expected that Tottenham Court Road collaborative planning that would take are twin bores with cast iron serves more passengers than Heathrow in six segments to form supporting beams. risk, and significantly reduced passenger will accommodate up to 200,000 passengers everyone’s needs into account. It’s an area segmental linings, located one metre below Airport each year and is located at the centre This would be primarily constructed from disruption. a day as a key interchange station with the undergoing major development, and which and adjacent to a large Victorian brick of a major transport interchange, woven within the D&C tunnel, and would require The upgrade’s design also involved six Elizabeth Line (Crossrail) coming into use also relies on maintaining footfall to its retail sewer. The sewer could not be moved or around a dense population of residents and a minimum of 17 weekend track closures of points at which the new tunnels would in December 2018, and perhaps Crossrail 2 outlets. Not disrupting their operations was, disturbed without risking leakage. The stakeholders, including two of the capital’s the D&C line. This was unacceptable to the break into the existing station tunnels. The in the future. The team has built a new ticket therefore, of primary importance to the team. solution included driving over 90 horizontal long-standing and Grade 2-listed theatres. team, due to the level of disruption and risk team successfully incorporated ‘propless’ hall that is six times larger than the original, Below the surface, two new overbridges steel piles of up to 20m in length from the The team are providing step-free access of overrun due to the nature of the work. connections in the design to remove and provided step-free access from street to were constructed above the existing Central adjacent Royal Mail Rail tunnel that is no while almost doubling the size of the A propped slab was developed that the need for any temporary support in platform by installing eight new escalators Line platform tunnels to expand capacity for longer in service to form a support raft existing Southern ticket hall. They have moved the focus of construction from the station at these points, maximising and six new lifts. pedestrian access from a new Central Line beneath the sewer. already opened a new Northern ticket hall the operational D&C tunnel and into the operational space throughout the works. All works have been conducted while passenger tunnel. “In the original design, the overbridge and constructed approximately 300m of adjacent new link tunnels below, thereby Haskins concludes: “With the London maintaining the operation of the station The scale of the challenge was enormous tunnel was to be driven using traditional concrete-lined link tunnels between the two reducing the requirement to close the population growing at a rate of twice that of below ground, and the road network above but, undaunted, the team rose to it by timber handworks, a slow and manual halls. railway to passenger traffic. the rest of the UK, the demand for constant ground; this includes one of the busiest road carefully devising an innovative and bespoke process. However, the team worked with Over the seven-year project (which This change in the construction approach and efficient transport is high. Upgrades junctions in Central London. solution. civil engineering firms OTB, Halcrow commenced in 2011), they will have safely meant that the propped slab could be such as Tottenham Court Road and Victoria and Dr Sauer & Partners to develop an accommodated approximately 595 million constructed in a six-day blockade over are essential in meeting this growth. alternative design. This involved a machine- passengers and 61 million vehicles through the Christmas period, which was already “TfL aspires to deliver more for less, as excavated shotcrete cavern spanning over their worksites while transforming this vital scheduled for track work shared with other funding for major capital projects becomes the crown of the platform tunnels, which node in the transport network. harder to secure and ever more projects enabled London Underground to continue Within the station, the District and Circle The team were compete for the available investment. So operating a full service on the Central Line lines (D&C) underpass was integral to the ensuring that we apply the lessons learnt below. project as it essentially linked the extended the first to work on from projects such as Tottenham Court Road “As well as being the first project to install South ticket hall to the new North ticket hall. and Victoria will be essential. Projects such a shotcrete cavern over a live operational However, the dimension from the top of the a sprayed concrete as these, delivered by committed teams railway, the team also had to cut out the running rails to the top of the underpass roof over seven or more years now set the new crown of the Central Line tunnel and slab was just 0.6m, so innovative thinking cavern directly above minimum level of expectation from which install the permanent overbridge beams was needed to give enough clearance for future projects can build upon to introduce during two 52-hour possessions. While the construction while maintaining the London a live platform during the next level of innovation, collaborative works required exceptionally detailed and Underground Standard requirements of a working and delivery efficiencies. meticulous planning by all involved, in the ‘step free’ tunnel. traffic hours. “Exciting times are ahead and we are very end it proved simpler, quicker and safer than The original solution was to support much looking forward to being involved in Victoria station upgrade’s propped slab, just 0.6 metres below the running rails of the District alternative traditional techniques, and meant the D&C tracks with concrete walls Jez Haskins, future challenging major projects to support and Circle Lines. TAYLOR WOODROW. less ground movement.” perpendicular to the track, and segmentally TfL Sector Director, Taylor Woodrow London’s future growth.” ■

52 53 LONDON SPECIAL Open access TfL’s smart and simple solutions are making London’s Underground an option for a lot of people who would otherwise be unable to use it, writes STEFANIE FOSTER

hen you are on the Tube, its iconic map to help passengers navigate pressed up against your fellow the Underground network while avoiding commuters in the heat, it is areas with large stretches of tunnel. The new Wperhaps not uncommon to feel map features a grey overlay to show which uneasy at times, especially when the train stations or sections of track are underground, enters the dark, enclosed tunnels deep under including which London Overground, central London. But for some, this feeling is Docklands Light Railway and TfL Rail not just simple uneasiness, it is an intense sections are in tunnels. and excessive fear of becoming trapped, of “Making the Tube network accessible for not being able to breathe, and it can cause everyone is one of our top priorities,” TfL’s that person to panic. Director of Customer Strategy Mark Evers Claustrophobia affects around 5% of the said. “This new map is just one of the tools population and more general feelings of we have created in response to feedback anxiety affect significantly more people from our customers on how we can make the over their lifetimes. It would be easy to transport network more accessible, making dismiss those facts for someone unaffected travelling easier and more comfortable for all by these difficulties, but they can have a our customers.” serious impact on a person’s ability to lead a The move has been a popular one with normal life, including travelling on the Tube charity Anxiety UK. Chief Executive Nicky network. Lidbetter said: “For those with anxiety The name of the Underground alone conditions such as panic attacks and conjures up images of an entirely claustrophobia, we know that travel by subterranean network but, in reality, of the Underground can be problematic and the 270 stations, more than half of them challenging. This new map is an excellent are above ground. Only the Victoria, and resource for those wishing to avoid journeys Waterloo and City lines are completely where there are tunnels, serving as a great underground, and much of the outer reaches pre-journey planning aid and increasing of the network are much like main line access to public transport. I sincerely hope Source: Transport for London. railways. that the map will encourage those with In recognition that this misunderstanding claustrophobia and/or panic attacks, who (or the uncertainty about which parts of the have previously avoided this form of public network are in tunnels) might be a barrier to transport out of fear, to reconsider using the travel for some people, Transport for London Tube”. last month launched a modified version of The idea came about following suggestions from passengers living with claustrophobia or other types of anxiety conditions, who find it difficult to use the It’s not just about maps, either. Last someone with the badge. It is similar to the difference to the lives of many people.” all TfL services, including , UNDERGROUND FACTS Tube. It is just one of many ways that TfL autumn, TfL conducted a trial to see whether already very popular ‘Baby on Board’ badge The badge and an accompanying card trams and river services, as well as on station 45% of the London Underground is in has been listening to its customers and a new badge bearing the words ‘Please offer launched for pregnant women in 2005 - TfL has now been rolled out and can be used on platforms and waiting areas. They are tunnel. trying to ensure that the Tube network is me a seat’ would help people who find it now issues around 310,000 of these every both available at https://tfl.gov.uk/transport- The deepest station on the network is accessible to as many people as possible. difficult to stand on public transport, such year. Making the Tube accessibility/please-offer-me-a-seat on the Northern Line - it’s A range of Accessibility guides is available as those suffering from conditions with James McNaught, who previously All of these initiatives are part of TfL’s 58½ metres underground at its deepest from https://tfl.gov.uk/forms/12387.aspx that invisible symptoms, to obtain a seat. developed a ‘cancer on board’ badge and network accessible Action on Equality commitments, based point. offer advice on avoiding stairs and finding More than 1,000 people took part in the also took part in the ‘Please offer me a seat’ on the vision that ‘every person matters The Central Line has the most Tube toilets, as well as large print and audio trial, with 72% of journeys being made trial, said: “This is a brilliant scheme and I for everyone is one of in keeping London moving, working and stations with no surface buildings (Bank, versions of the map for those with sight or easier by using it. Ninety-eight per cent of am very glad that it is being introduced. The growing’. These seemingly simple schemes Bethnal Green, Chancery Lane, Gants hearing difficulties. the participants said they would recommend anxiety of needing a seat but being unsure our top priorities. could make a real difference in breaking Hill and Notting Hill Gate). There really does seem to be a map for it. During the trial, TfL used social media whether you will get one can rob people down the barriers that prevent some everyone to make everyday problems just and customer information on the network to of the confidence to use public transport, Mark Evers, people from making the most of London’s that little bit easier to overcome. encourage passengers to offer their seats to and this simple initiative will make a huge Director of Customer Strategy, TfL comprehensive transport network. ■

54 55 SPECIAL REPORT A PROMOTION

SNC-Lavalin is firmly rooted in the capital and supports all the constituent parts of Transport for London, as well as many of its KEEP YOUR CUSTOMERS suppliers. SHUTTERSTOCK. CLOSE, AND YOUR STAFF CLOSER SNC-Lavalin has gone from strength to strength, and its services are in increasing demand with TfL. Commercial Manager HUGH FRASER tells STEFANIE FOSTER how the firm is supporting the many changes to London’s transport

aving your offices at the centre of to be closest to the biggest client, as we your client base brings obvious saw it [about 500 yards from London advantages. In 2002, SNC-Lavalin Underground’s divisional offices] and we H(then Interfleet) recognised the developed very good relationships with all of need to diversify its client base from what the operating units for TfL.” was, largely, companies formed at the time SNCL has since moved to offices in of privatisation. The firm had set its sights Devonshire Square, near Liverpool Street on working with Transport for London, and station. the only way to do that effectively was to “LU was going through PPP [Public establish a base in the capital. Private Partnership] at the time, so there Hugh Fraser, SNCL’s commercial manager, was a lot of reallocation of responsibilities. joined the London office 13 years ago. At that Within two years we grew to about 30 point, there were only four employees. people at the London office, and we while quickly diversifying to support the They’ll be able to see whether doors are stock areas for LU and DLR, including delivery phases.” “We based ourselves in Canary Wharf were specifically recruiting people with entire supply base, too. open or shut, the performance of the traction reviews of maintenance and support for new SNCL’s legacy with TfL runs deep - they knowledge of LU.” “We now support all the subsidiaries of control system, and oversee brake pressures - vehicle provision. It’s had ample involvement supported London Tram in bringing vehicle At that time, SNCL was not on any of TfL, and probably all the suppliers to TfL a total of 270 different items of data. in this area, with LU’s New Tube for London and infrastructure maintenance back the TfL framework agreements, but after in some shape or form, whether that be a On a system which carries about 117 project to procure 250 new trains for the in-house, facilitated the introduction of OLYMPIC CHALLENGE qualifying ten years ago on the rolling stock concessionaire like KeolisAmey Docklands million passengers every year, this remote Piccadilly, Bakerloo, Central and Waterloo & the Class 378 vehicles to the Overground, SNCL played an important role in side, the company has been on them ever or MTR Crossrail. Our services go all the way condition monitoring system (a collaboration City lines, the first of which is due to enter and advised bidders on the letting of recent the London 2012 Olympic Games. since, covering more areas as the expertise through the supply chain. That’s because TfL with lead contractor Arrowvale Electronics service on the in 2023. concessions for the DLR and Overground. It was tasked by DLR and Serco within SNCL has grown and diversified. is an integrated railway. Elsewhere, signalling and communication supplier Nomad Digital) SNCL has supported train builders in The list goes on… Docklands with a particularly Says Fraser: “Our London office used to is split out with infrastructure in Network has made a significant improvement to their vehicle designs and bids for this major These achievements would not be possible challenging request: to increase the be very rolling stock-orientated, but now Rail, but TfL manages everything itself, performance. contract by helping them understand how without SNCL’s commitment to its staff. level of service vehicles availability we cover infrastructure, signalling, project which means that we can provide services But it’s not all about performance - some of best to fulfil contractual requirements, Regional Director Michael Grace tells to 96%, or 144 out of the 150-train management and transport advisory throughout the whole system.” SNCL’s recent SNCL’s work is on a far more personal level. defining a suitable vehicle solution and RAIL: “We want to carry on growing and fleet. Doing this meant working out services as well.” acquisition of Atkins will increase the firm’s In April, the firm was awarded two design writing the final bids. strengthening our team. One of the biggest what pre-emptive work could be In addition to supporting TfL’s rolling range of abilities. contracts to help LU improve rail vehicle Says Fraser: “We’re looking forward to challenges is the availability of people. The performed on the vehicles to ensure stock projects, the team has also played SNCL has been instrumental in projects accessibility for persons with reduced mobility NTfL and the new DLR vehicles contracts, market is very busy, and there’s a lot of that the trains would not need a key role delivering new signalling and that have made a significant difference and visual impairments. These cover the and then the delivery of those vehicles into competition for the same good people. Our maintenance during the events. In systems within London Underground, to London’s transport. A recent example ’s 36-train fleet, the Central service. We have worked with suppliers in solution to that is to develop our own. normal operation, maintenance tasks London Overground and Crossrail. This is the introduction of a ‘black box’ to the Line’s 85-train fleet and the Waterloo & City the development of their offers for NTfL “We’ve brought in more than 85 people would need to be carried out every has included providing a wide variety of DLR’s rolling stock, to improve reliability Line’s five-train fleet. SNCL’s modifications and look forward to supporting them in the in the past 12 months. In 2018 we’re taking day, week or month, so it was not an technical specialisms and engineering and availability. The remote condition- are also aimed at improving the passenger on 22 graduates and four or five technicians, easy problem to solve. leadership to the Four Line Modernisation monitoring system allows DLR operators experience in general with new information Our services go all plus some apprentices. Since 1998, we’ve The contract proved to be Programme, the Deep Tube Programme, to see vehicle performance in real time, and systems, emergency alarms, CCTV and taken on more than 150 graduates.” serendipitous - their client at London and the Victoria Line Upgrade Programme. initiate mitigation measures for smarter lighting, as well as designated wheelchair and the way through the Testament to SNCL’s staff engagement 2012 was Richard George, who is Starting with TfL as a direct client, over maintenance. pushchair zones. programme is that just under 70% of those now SNCL’s group managing director, the years SNCL has provided consultancy The trains can be monitored the whole The benefit to LU is that these upgrades will supply chain. graduates have stayed with the company. having joined the company shortly services for all of TfL’s constituent parts, time they are in service, anywhere on the extend the life of the fleets and result in long- Grace continues: “Retaining good people after the Olympics. including LU, Docklands Light Railway, DLR network, with information taking less term cost savings. Hugh Fraser, is paramount, so staff engagement is our London and London Overground, than three seconds to reach control staff. SNCL has led the way on many rolling Commercial Manager, SNC-Lavalin number one priority.” ■

56 57 LONDON SPECIAL Crossrail 2: true north or going south? here’s been a prolonged radio an alternative,” said NIC. “More work should will only come on stream after we’ve built but none since 2015. “The Secretary of State silence about the future direction At this fragile, embryonic stage, nobody dares breathe also be done on the costs and benefits of it - through fares and the business rates didn’t want us to undertake another until of Crossrail 2, London’s next great a word about Crossrail 2. And money is, as ever, a individual central London stations.” supplement, which we can’t use until he’d seen the revised business case,” said Tinfrastructure project. Finally, Might one or more be sacrificed? By 2033.” (after it’s finished contributing to the Dix. Secretary of State for Transport Chris little too tight to mention. ANDREW MOURANT talks chance, the day after Grayling’s intervention, Elizabeth Line). Political upheaval has held things up. The Grayling spoke to the nation last month RAIL was booked in to interview Transport Last March Dix told RAIL that the Government didn’t start its review process (July). But few were any the wiser about its to C2 Managing Director MICHÈLE DIX for London’s Michèle Dix, managing director supplement could run another 30 years. sooner because of the general election, Dix details. of Crossrail 2. Dix attended the meeting Meanwhile, she adds, money should start points out. “We won’t now get a decision this With the Government ditching its would bypass terminal stations, relieving, Infrastructure Commission (NIC) in between Grayling and Khan, after which the to trickle in after 2019, via the mayor’s side of the summer recess.” promises to electrify, among others, the line for instance, pressure on Waterloo from March last year. As for the latest pricing, Secretary of State issued his statement. But Community Infrastructure Levy - “about The project will require passing a from Cardiff to Swansea, people could be the south-west. C2 would greatly improve the £32.6bn of March 2016 has shrunk she declined to share details of the revised 16% [of London’s share]. We do need help Parliamentary hybrid bill to kick-start things. forgiven for wondering what might be next connectivity in the Upper Lea Valley to £31.2bn. According to Transport for business case for C2 with RAIL because the contributing to the cost.” “Originally, we made plans based on having to bite the dust. Scrapping C2 would have “creating the right conditions for new London (TfL), more than £10bn of that is an DfT is still chewing them over. The project is being jointly developed by that bill by 2019. Because of the election, our stunned almost everyone, yet it’s hard to opportunities and thousands of new allowance for risk. Dix insists that Grayling still thinks C2 is a TfL and . It has a Programme plan now is that we want it in 2020. tell what a new government and a new man homes.” NIC suggested a delay in building the good project, and right for London’s housing Board, chaired by former NIC chairman “A hybrid bill is about getting the balance running the railways might do, given the Space would be freed up on the South north western branch running beyond and transport needs. “With commitment to Lord Adonis, whose job is to make between a railway - building it - and prevailing neurosis about expenditure. Western Main Line for around 20 more Alexandra Palace to . “This other schemes there’s pressure to get this recommendations to Grayling and Khan. acknowledging that local areas want to have Different rules, however, apply to London: trains at morning peak hours, and there’d would also provide the opportunity to under way,” she says. “London has said There have already been three consultations a role. The Secretary of State and the Mayor it’s almost a city state, growing ever more be a similar benefit on the West Anglia consider an eastern branch from Hackney as we can fund half, but most of that money since 2013 on C2’s design and development, will decide [its contents] as a result of complex and congested. It’s where people Main Line. There’d also be scope to run in power live and work. If the capital is extra trains to Cambridge, Stansted Airport, throttled by congested tubes, trains and Portsmouth, Southampton and Basingstoke. Crossrail (pictured here under construction through roads, it will suffer economically. Everyone It’s long been agreed that construction the Thames Tunnel) will help relieve London’s rail can see that. costs should be split equally between capacity crunch from east to west when it fully Crossrail (The Elizabeth Line), running London and the private sector, with opens in December 2019. Crossrail 2 is designed to from Reading to Shenfield, is expected to developers given scope to build around new do the same on a north-south axis from 2033, deal with the west to east problem. But the stations. Yet there’s been unease about how should it secure government approval. CROSSRAIL. commuter belt south of London is crying out all this might actually work. for an increase in capacity, and welcomes the Last month’s joint statement from Grayling ambition shown in Crossrail 2 - of running and C2’s co-sponsor, London Mayor Sadiq up to 30 trains hourly once fully operational Khan, told us little because the Department after 2033. for Transport (DfT) is still evaluating the Yet the route, conceived to run from revised business case. If the communique and - possibly - New Southgate had any purpose, it was to remind the public through Alexandra Palace in the north to that C2 remains alive. Wimbledon in the south (and maybe to one “Given its price tag, we have to ensure that or more of Chessington, Shepperton and/or we get this right,” Grayling said. “The Mayor Epsom) currently comes at a price of £31.2 and I have agreed… to develop plans that billion. Or so we’re told. are as strong as possible, so the public gets With the plans as they stand, C2 would an affordable scheme that is fair to the UK feature a twin 24-mile tunnelled section taxpayer. between Wimbledon and Tottenham “Following a successful outcome… I’m Hale and New Southgate, connecting to keen to launch a fresh public consultation to existing routes in and help… improve the scheme and clarify the , and connecting with the position around the safeguarded route.” Elizabeth Line at Tottenham Court Road So what does that mean? ‘Affordable’ interchange. appears to mean striving to save £4bn - One of C2’s great selling points is that it that much was signalled by the National How can we make it more affordable for the UK government, given other challenges in Wales and the North? How can London contribute more? Michèle Dix, Managing Director, Crossrail 2

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output from the Programme Board. It’s might not C2 spawn grotesque tower blocks, about balance - what do you want these Following a successful of which the capital already has a surfeit? CROSSRAIL 2 ROUTE (AUTUMN 2015) powers for? The more you put into a bill, the Dix does appear mindful of that - she recalls harder it is to get it through.” outcome… I’m keen to launch a a recent trip to Japan, staying almost 30 Dix appears unfazed by the delay. floors up in a skyscraper hotel so surrounded Theoretically, this parliament could run until fresh public consultation to with similar buildings “that there was no 2022, which will give more time. By then horizon.” she hopes the bill will have advanced to a help… improve the scheme and Yet she sees no reason why the West End second reading and be on the home straight. should suffer that fate. She doesn’t think recent events will affect clarify the position around the “The London borough with the most the timetable: construction to start in the density of population is Kensington and early 2020s; the first C2 services running safeguarded route Chelsea, but so much of the housing is in 2033. But, given the political landscape, , Transport Secretary mansion blocks of five or six storeys.” few people would bet on this parliament ‘Densification’ need not mean the borough running its full five years. “vital to fix the housing crisis”. Authority (GLA) and boroughs along the losing its character, she adds. She’s keen to In TfL’s revised business case for C2, The revised business case describes how route,” it said. That suggests a lot complex avoid the prospect of housing going up “on there is, says Dix, a section about paring C2 will deliver 200,000 new homes along negotiation. greenfield sites elsewhere.” down costs … “how can we make it more the route - a lot of them at its northern end, Also in April, a report by property So much relies on projections that show affordable for the UK government, given in the Lea Valley. Work has been done to companies suggested London could fund the capital’s housing soaring in value. Given other challenges in Wales and the North? ensure the route aligns with the availability half of C2’s cost simply through more that the eager lobbying of the Government How can London contribute more?” of strategic housing land. commercial development in the West End by developers is very recent, one assumes The stream of private money depends A Parliamentary briefing report in April, - “the creation of great, much-needed new they’re taking a long-term view, unmoved heavily on developers paying to exploit shortly before Theresa May’s ill-fated dash places in the country’s most economically by what the next few years may hold prime sites en route, especially near central for the polls, suggested setting up ‘one or productive district… [can] help pay for economically and the great unknown of London. Unsurprisingly, given London’s more’ development corporations to lead the Crossrail 2 through development taxes or Brexit. top-end prices, home builders and property master planning. local retention.” Nobody expects an everlasting ice age industry leaders are champing at the bit - “For housing provision to be a success But isn’t the West End already developed when (or if) the UK finally withdraws from more than 60 have written a joint letter to across the whole route, the deal for Crossrail to the hilt? Europe, least of all in London. the Government, claiming that Crossrail 2 is 2 will need buy-in from the “You must be joking!” says Dix. OK, but But some fear that a downturn could be

London’s residents and business community will be expected to meet half the estimated £31.2 billion price tag to build Crossrail 2, with the remainder coming from private developers poised to exploit prime land dotted along its proposed route. JACK BOSKETT/RAIL.

Source: Network Rail.

approaching. As RAIL emerged from Dix’s As RAIL reported last year, the choice of office above St James’ Park Tube station, King’s Road, Chelsea, has been especially the London contained a divisive. But there’s also anxiety at cautionary story. It was that Virgin Money Wimbledon, where the proposed C2 tunnel had become wary about making new would begin, and the tension between loans in the capital for fear of borrowers expense and practicality surrounding options overstretching and ending up in negative at and Balham. equity. Estate agents report that in some Here we take a closer look at some of those boroughs, prices are dropping for the first disputes and discussions. time in years, the LES added. Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon, WIMBLEDON C2’s south-western outpost, believes the DfT The prospect of a tunnel entrance at wants to test London’s funding commitment Wimbledon has mobilised residents. MP “to obliteration.” Hammond favours the Stephen Hammond has been campaigning scheme - with reservations, but doubts for a rethink. He welcomes the business and there’ll be any consultation on the revised employment opportunities C2 could bring business case until early 2018. “The fact that but says the only option consulted on in 2015 the department is taking such a long time would be “immensely damaging.” suggests to me there’s a problem,” he told Hammond was also concerned about RAIL. the impact in and around Raynes Park. “C2 didn’t make clear how much Raynes SURFACE TENSION Park station would need to change, or how Most of the battles about new stations, and building a large site near Dundonald Road where they might be built, are being fought enabling trains to reverse might affect south of the river. residential property,” he said. There

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would, he added, be “huge disruption” in There are hints of a shift 16 months later. Wimbledon Park, caused by the construction “Tooting will be more costly but the potential Tunnelling beneath central London from of a tunnel portal at Gap Road. benefits will outweigh the costs,” Dix tells Wimbledon is expected to release much-needed “What wouldn’t be acceptable is seven RAIL. “We’ve done more boreholes to get a capacity on the South West Main Line into years of disruption in Wimbledon town better understanding of the soil conditions. Britain’s busiest station, London Waterloo, for centre,” he told RAIL. We identified Tooting Broadway as the best up to 20 trains per hour. JACK BOSKETT/RAIL. “Some of the original plans had unrealistic place because of the relief it would give to elements - they were looking at knocking the Northern Line. Everyone seems to want down two office blocks and a listed public Tooting… it would help regeneration and house. I suggested they consider tunnelling serve St George’s Hospital better.” between Raynes Park and Wimbledon. A box But caveats remain, chiefly that station could go beneath the existing station. construction will be far more disruptive and “Originally, C2 said a tunnel couldn’t be costly because of all that muck and the high put in place because of a gradient problem, water levels. but engineers have since conceded they “Also, there are concerns around Tooting could do it.” Yet that solution would come at Market - people there think [building a a price, as Hammond admits. “Last time C2 station] will have an [adverse] effect,” she was asked, the extra cost of this was about adds. “The market is doing much better than £1bn.” in 2013 (when the first C2 consultations took “I understand they’re looking at other place). We’ll have to hear what they say. With possibilities. One is a refinement of the new stations we don’t just say ‘plonk it there, existing town centre scheme, but much more end of ’.” phased. Another is building a few more So consultation is a serious exercise that platforms pushed to the north can change things? Not, says Dix, if it simply side of the station, freeing up lines for C2. amounts to people saying “we don’t like That could work but it brings other problems it here, put it somewhere else - that isn’t a - it would involve taking out residential reason to move it. But if someone says ‘go property and also extra land, including the somewhere else’ and there’s proper input… site of the magistrates’ court.” then we’d consider it.” Residents are worried that overbearing With NIC urging savings, is it realistic to new buildings will be the price they must pay expect backing for Tooting, estimated last for C2. “We’ve seen a surge in developers year to cost £500m more than Balham and wanting to replace existing buildings with take two to three years longer to build? One taller ones, which residents don’t support,” thing’s clear – there seems very little appetite Hammond said. “They want higher quality for it in Balham. None, in fact, according to designs. There’s a strong preference for the Siobhain McDonagh, MP for Mitcham and Victorian style.” , who’s long campaigned for a station at Tooting Broadway. TOOTING VERSUS BALHAM “People fear a Crossrail station at Balham Last year, when speaking with C2 Managing could destroy much of the high street, Director Michèle Dix, RAIL came away with including Waitrose. And people living the impression that C2’s preference had around Wandsworth Common don’t like the swung towards a new station at Balham, idea of having air vent shafts there,” she said. despite the stronger case to be made for A Tooting Broadway station would Tooting, further south down the Northern relieve the huge overcrowding that’s worst Line. Now, it would appear, things have between Tooting Bec and Stockwell. The changed. ‘ Squeeze’ means this stretch of line The well-documented problem with is practically unusable between 08.00 and Tooting is geological. Lying on the 09.00 each weekday morning. Trains heading She says that the better access offered by According to the Chelsea Society, character’ will be spoilt. They also argued matter. Moreover, she points out, opposition Wimbledon fault line (Balham doesn’t), far north are now usually full at , a C2 station at Tooting would also pull in TfL’s updated business case ‘gives due that Chelsea is well enough connected to King’s Road isn’t universal. “There’s also a below ground lies, as Dix describes it, ‘wet the third station up. investment to Mitcham and Morden because consideration’ to removing King’s Road already, with most of it already within 800m quieter ‘yes’ from people living to the West, pebbly muck.’ “Tooting is the major problem “This would be hugely eased by giving transport links are much better than to station. It’s been condemned by the pressure of a station. who feel that public transport in the area isn’t in the whole project… building would take commuters a choice of travelling on Crossrail Balham. Once at Tooting, commuters could group nocrossrailchelsea.com as “a complete Regeneration arguments don’t apply to as good as it could be - and also, increasingly, longer… it would be more like open heart 2 to Victoria, Euston or other central reach Clapham Junction in four minutes and waste of more than £1bn of public money, Chelsea, they say. Moreover, locals share a business lobby,” she said. surgery as opposed (in Balham’s case) to destinations,” says McDonagh. “Balham Euston/King’s Cross St Pancras in 20. lacking any transport justification or financial the fears of protesters in Wimbledon - that Hammond agrees that the station should keyhole surgery. Balham would give us most is already well connected - via Southern, Yet cost and Tooting’s tricky terrain could basis, and fails to meet the criteria upon their council might lose powers to control be kept. In Chelsea there is, he thinks, an of the benefits… but be less disruptive; so people can get to London Victoria directly, be a sticking point. which Crossrail 2 is based.” the height and scale of new buildings under element of nimbyism. “In 20 years’ time, we’ve planned to build there instead.” besides the rest of South London.” “You can’t do mechanical extraction there Last November the society was told by a hybrid Act of Parliament “which could people might wonder why on earth we didn’t - it’s all gravel and water,” says McDonagh. the then leader of Kensington and Chelsea overrule everybody.” put a station in there.” ■ “And they don’t know how deep it goes, or Borough Council, Nicholas Paget-Brown, The voices have been loud and many. Jason The fact that the where it starts.” that there wouldn’t be any large buildings Pearson, a spokesman for nocrossrailchelsea. either around or above the station entrance. com, told RAIL, “Our sense is that the station ABOUT THE AUTHOR department is taking such KING’S ROAD, CHELSEA “That served to make any funding for the is dead. There have been reports about cost- Andrew Mourant, Contributing Writer Some local residents think it’s all over - that project even less viable,” the society says. cutting, and that the current proposal is for a long time suggests to the idea for a station at King’s Road Chelsea Paget-Brown also said that KCBC wouldn’t the Victoria to Clapham stage to go direct. Andrew Mourant is a freelance is a dead duck, given the pressure on C2 to provide any funding for the project. People we’ve spoken to at City Hall have all journalist specialising in me there’s a problem save money. As RAIL reported last year, the The Chelsea Society has an armoury said privately that King’s Road isn’t going to education, business and the campaign against has been vociferous and of objections: overcrowding; the threat happen.” rail industry. Stephen Hammond, MP for Wimbledon high-profile. of subsidence; that the locality’s ‘village Dix, however, wouldn’t be drawn on the

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Built by Bombardier, DLR 069 approaches West DEVOTED TO DLR Silvertown on February 20 2015. PAUL BIGLAND. PAUL STEPHEN speaks to MARTIN RENNOLDSON, Bombardier’s Group Account Director for TfL, about the role the company’s rolling stock has had in shaping the Docklands Light Railway, and could play in its future

ew companies can claim to have 2002. Known as B2K, they were an updated contributed so heavily to the 30-year version of existing stock. success story of the Docklands Light DLR’s fleet was finally brought up to its FRailway as Bombardier, which has current level just a few years later, when 24 manufactured each of the 155 purpose-built B07 stock vehicles were ordered in 2005, electric multiple unit (EMU) vehicles that are which was increased by a further 31 vehicles currently in operation on the network. in 2006. This relationship is made all the more Those vehicles were needed for the remarkable by its endurance, with network extensions serving London City Bombardier consistently chosen to provide Airport, Woolwich Arsenal and Stratford successive orders of rolling stock to help DLR International. Meanwhile, the DLR was also keep pace with booming demand, and to being converted to three-car operation ahead serve physical extensions to its network. of the 2012 Olympic Games, during which The first order was for B90 stock which the network carried an unprecedented 12 Bombardier built in 1991 to replace the DLR’s million visitors. original P86 and P89 stock that ran in single Bombardier’s TfL Group Account Director cars, and therefore became increasingly Martin Rennoldson says: “Our relationship unsuitable for the heavier passenger loadings with DLR started in the early 1990s when being experienced on the network prior to we began delivering the B90 stock, and their withdrawal in 1991 and 1995. that relationship has gone from strength to The 23 B90 vehicles from Bombardier were strength to tie in with the dramatic increase with Stratford, which was the primary new jobs are planned. This has bred a familiarity with the London Overground. not only technically superior with increased in the size of the network. venue of the 2012 Olympics, and is now a Although the new trains will be the same demanding performance required from Looking to the future, Bombardier has acceleration, but they also enabled DLR “We were asked to design something key development area. It also serves London length as existing two and three-car trains, rolling stock on track well known for its entered into a joint venture with Hitachi to to convert to two-car operation, and were sufficiently robust for this particular City Airport, which is an increasingly they will be run in fixed formation and feature weight restrictions, extremely tight curve bid for the Deep Tube Upgrade Programme, shortly bolstered by an order for 47 near- environment, which is not really light rail or attractive airport to fly from.” walk-through carriages to add 30% capacity, radii and inclines as steep as 1-in-6. due to be awarded next May, as well as identical B92 stock vehicles that were built metro but heavy light rail, and we were given Demands on the fleet continue to rise resembling the 192 S-Stock trains built by Rennoldson adds: “We have always been entering into the pre-qualification process for between 1993-95. a lot of scope in the interior and exterior with 122 million passenger journeys Bombardier for London Underground’s sub- aware of these challenges and can bring our the DLR rolling stock replacement project. Fully automated, the stock quickly design and technical performance in order to recorded in 2016-17, a 10% increase from surface lines between 2009-17. previous experience to bear - and our unique Rennoldson concludes: “The existing DLR established itself as a firm favourite with meet DLR’s business aspirations. just two years previously. At the same time, The new trains will have air-conditioning, insights. We understand DLR in terms of its stock is iconic in its own right, but there’s users, thanks to its capacious interior, large “We like to think that we’ve played our reliability remains consistently high, and the power sockets for mobile devices and standards and procedures and its demands room to bring it more into the 21st century panoramic windows and striking red livery. part in DLR’s growth over the last 25 years moving annual average for fleet reliability onboard real-time information, while Bexton in reliability and acceptance standards. TfL and to emulate that ride comfort, capacity By the turn of the millennium there was as its long-term rolling stock partner. It has (scheduled services that operate) stood at Depot will be expanded to accommodate certainly set the standards very high. and interior ambience of newer trains we a requirement for additional capacity as changed phenomenally in that time, not just 99.2% at the end of June. them. “There’s nothing else like the DLR in the have built for London, such as the S-Stock. Canary Wharf continued to cement its status in the physical growth of the network but in The stock is maintained by DLR operator Transport for London has also indicated UK, and when we built the ‘92s’ they were “We need to focus on reliability, but as a global financial centre, and an extension that part of London, which has been opened Keolis Amey, but Bombardier provides that it will seek improved reliability by very much a bespoke solution. It’s a special also build on ridership, internal capacity was opened to Lewisham in 1999. DLR once up to large-scale development. technical assistance and supplies spares. specifying a mean distance of 50,000km case and you have to get to know DLR quite and ambience so it’s still an attractive and again turned to Bombardier for a solution, “It’s helped make Canary Wharf the global This hard-working fleet sustains an between service-affecting failures, while any well to really understand its requirements.” comfortable environment to travel in. and 24 vehicles were built between 2001- financial powerhouse is it now, and connects impressive performance, more than 25 new stock will be powered by the network’s Should Bombardier be tasked with “I know DLR anticipates ridership to level years since the first vehicles emerged from 750V DC and have automatic delivering the next generation of DLR rolling off a bit when Crossrail opens [to Abbey Bombardier’s Derby Litchurch Lane facility. operation technology compatible with DLR’s stock, it will be just the latest in a long Wood and Shenfield in December 2018], It’s a special case and you The company is now hoping that this moving block signalling system. production line of trains it has built, or is but then rise again strongly, so it needs to means it will be well-placed to fulfil the An Invitation to Tender is expected to be building, for the wider London area in recent make sure that every square centimetre of have to get to know DLR quite next order for DLR rolling stock, as was issued later this year, and a winning bidder years, and on networks which face a similar its new rolling stock is used intelligently and confirmed in the Mayor of London’s draft announced in 2018. capacity challenge. effectively, while integrating with the rest of well to really understand its Transport Strategy published in June. Bombardier should be in strong contention, As well as building the S-Stock for London the TfL network. It stipulates that 43 new vehicles are as Rennoldson points to the intimate Underground, the firm is building 70 Class “Since 1992, we’ve been delivering about requirements. needed from 2022 to enable 33 of the oldest knowledge that its designers already possess 345 Aventras for Crossrail, with the first 20 trains a year on average for TfL. It is one Martin Rennoldson, B90/92 vehicles to be withdrawn, and to of DLR from winning previous bids, and entering service between Liverpool Street of our top ten global customers, and we’d TfL Group Account Director, Bombardier strengthen services across the Royal Docks designing rolling stock that fulfils the and Shenfield in June. It also has a fleet of 45 like to maintain that with a strong UK-based area where 25,000 new homes and 60,000 network’s unique requirements. Class 710 Aventras under construction for approach.” ■

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The Victoria Line has employed Automatic collaborated extremely closely throughout the Train Operation technology since it opened in project, effectively working as a single team 1968. This has now been completely renewed to deliver the upgrade programmes. Without by Siemens to facilitate an increased that level of collaboration, we simply wouldn’t A VERY COMPATIBLE frequency of up to 36 trains per hour. JACK have achieved such a successful outcome. BOSKETT/RAIL. “We’ve done our utmost to test to extremes the new technology we were installing and ahead of the final project completion. to stress-test the software. Of course, we UPGRADE As the new trains progressively came were able to do some of that on a test rig, but into service, the existing and new systems there are still limitations with that approach operated together until the last of the 1967- compared with testing on a live railway. Stock trains made its final journey on June 30 “London Underground recognised this Siemens Rail Automation’s Delivery Director 2011. During the mixed-fleet phase, the new and provided night-time train testing. signalling control centre at Osborne House Obviously, during all this, for for Mass Transit and International ADRIAN STUBBS in London was also opened and entered London also started running at weekends, operation, taking control of the legacy which meant less time for testing because gives PAUL STEPHEN the lowdown on how Siemens interlockings. time for regular maintenance now also has to The next stage of the programme be found during week nights.” helped transform London Underground’s Victoria featured the complete phasing out of the With the new system comfortably old system. This involved stripping out the exceeding expectations, Stubbs says that Line into one of the highest-capacity lines in Europe entire legacy system’s infrastructure and the next area for Siemens to explore in installing new signals, track circuits and partnership with TfL is in making optimum platform equipment. Through a series of key use of the data diagnostics generated by the commissionings, the new system was fully new technology to the benefit of every aspect introduced - increasing the service from of London Underground’s operations. 28tph to 33tph. He adds: “London Underground already A key milestone for the programme was embraces the Digital Railway concept, the London Olympic Games in July 2012, and the challenge now is how to share with the programme planned to ensure an information from different systems and optimum and reliable service was provided different parts of the organisation to to support the Games. maximise the operation and reliability of the London Underground then initiated the railway. Victoria Line Upgrade 2 (VLU2) project as “Recognising the power of joining data part of its further capacity improvement to create valuable information, Siemens has programme, with the five-year programme developed a powerful solution - Siemens involving extensive signalling, rolling stock, Railigent - which does just that. power, cooling and infrastructure upgrades. “Along with much of the industry supply During the final stage, Siemens upgraded chain, we are also working very closely with signalling and rolling stock systems to reflect Network Rail on its Digital Railway strategy, the extensive VLU2 infrastructure changes, with our Digital Railway Operations Director with comprehensive installation, testing, Mark Ferrer engaging with David Waboso principles testing and test-train running [Network Rail’s Digital Railway managing successfully completed. director] and his team to share expertise and Says Stubbs: “We had 23 short ideas to support the overall future strategy. commissionings as part of VLU2 in a “We’re learning a lot from our digital 12-month period, culminating in a closure at signalling work on the Easter 2017 to update the train fleet. It was programme, which will again be a an intense programme of work, but these are technological first for the industry, with the the sort of challenges we enjoy and rise to. project demonstrating not only how we can It’s not in the nature of our business to shy add value in congested areas of the network, away from these more difficult projects.” but also how the cost-to benefit ratios might Stubbs also applauds the collaborative work on the wider network.” approach that Transport for London Stubbs concludes: “This is an exciting time (TfL) and London Underground took for the industry in general and for Siemens with Siemens throughout both upgrade in particular, as we work collaboratively with programmes, which he says heavily operators to address the ever-increasing n May 22, London Underground As part of the upgrade programme, the order to facilitate the gradual replacement of throughout, Siemens was involved in contributed to the seamless introduction of demands on our railways and to look at introduced its highest ever Victoria Line’s entire signalling system was the rolling stock fleet without causing any every element of resignalling the railway, the new control systems. holistic solutions that use technology to frequency timetable, with 36 replaced and a new fleet of trains introduced disruption to normal running. providing its ATO and Automatic Train “Our two organisation’s delivery teams maximum advantage.” ■ Otrains per hour (tph) timetabled for the benefit of the 200 million passengers Says Stubbs: “Bringing the line up to Protection (ATP) technology, in conjunction on the Victoria Line during peak hours. This who currently use it each year. the excellent standard it is now, with with radio-based signalling, in what is equates to one train calling at each station Siemens was appointed to re-signal and 36tph operation, certainly wasn’t easy. But believed to be the world’s first ATO-on- It’s not in the nature of our every 100 seconds, enabling 3,000 more re-control the 13-mile line, and to carry out the programme demonstrated the vast ATO upgrade. passengers to travel each hour at peak times. a carefully planned and phased migration experience that we have as a business - not These new systems were overlaid onto the business to shy away from these The introduction of this new timetable from the old Automatic Train Operation only of signalling new greenfield lines existing signalling, largely during night- crowned the end of an ambitious £10 (ATO) system installed in the 1960s. such as on the Crossrail project, but also time possessions, every one of which was more difficult projects. billion upgrade programme, work on which This added to the complexity of the resignalling pre-existing and challenging successfully completed on time. began in 2003 to deliver extra capacity and programme, with the new system having to brownfield sites such as this.” As a result, the first new train entered Adrian Stubbs, Delivery Director for Mass Transit efficiency to the then 35-year-old line. be installed with the old one still in situ in While maintaining performance operational service in July 2009, three years and International, Siemens Rail Automation

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or visitors to the Northern Line Extension’s main works site on Road, it’s difficult to At the root of Fknow where to look. With the great looming hulk of Battersea Power Station rising majestically above a crane-laden skyscape, there’s abundant evidence in all directions of the huge regeneration project currently being undertaken in Battersea, and the neighbouring districts of and regeneration . The area has become home to an emerging diplomatic quarter in which a large new American Embassy approaches PAUL STEPHEN is given rare access completion, while the famous Grade 2-listed to the tunnel face during excavations power station is itself subject to a £9 billion conversion to residential and office use, more for London Underground’s than 30 years since its generators fell silent Northern Line Extension for the final time. All RAIL photography: PAUL STEPHEN

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1 4 Nearby construction projects restrict FLO to relying on Just-In-Time delivery of material.

Surrounded by construction on a scale not seen in the Capital since the build-up to the 2012 Olympic Games, RAIL forgets for a moment that it is here to look at developments below the ground, not above. That is because underpinning the gentrification of this post-industrial landscape is a £1.2bn extension of the London Underground’s Northern Line, due for completion by 2020. Rubber-stamped by the coalition Government in 2014, progress has been swift in actualising plans for the 3.2km extension between Battersea and - the southern interchange for the Northern Line’s Bank and Charing Cross 5 branches. An innovative funding formula was also found that requires Transport for London to foot much of the bill up-front through loans that will be largely repaid through contributions from local developers. It’s another example of a growing trend - of making those who commercially benefit most from infrastructure investment pay a proportionate share of the costs. A joint venture comprising Ferrovial Agroman and Laing O’Rourke (FLO) was 2 3 duly handed the main contract to bore twin running tunnels and build new stations at Battersea and Nine Elms. Ventilation shafts will also need to be constructed at both Kennington Park and Kennington Green. Having mobilised its main works site in Battersea, the FLO’s two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) were lowered into a 20m-deep launch shaft in April to begin 6 their subterranean journeys to Kennington in the east. During RAIL’s visit on July 19, the launch shaft was a hive of activity to support the TBMs, which had already tunnelled approximately 1km and were closing in on the site of the station box being excavated to eventually host Nine Elms station. In time-honoured tradition, both TBMs had also been officially named and they are Amy (after aviation pioneer Amy Johnson) 5. Inside the NLE’s northern tunnel. The large yellow pipe is for 1. A high angle conveyor belt rises 3. The TBMs are kept supplied with and Helen (after British astronaut Helen out of the launch shaft to take more precast concrete segments by a ventilation. To its right is a conveyor belt to remove spoil while, to than 300,000 tonnes of excavated fleet of six locomotives that run on the left, are pipes bringing clean water to the TBM and removing Sharman) as the result of a competition held earth to barges on the . 2ft 6in-gauge track. dirty water to the surface. A mixing agent is also piped to the TBM with local schools. Its final destination is Goshems which is mixed with the soil to make it more workable and easier Surrounding the launch shaft are Farm, near East Tilbury in Essex. 4. Excavation continues for to excavate while the cable carries an 11,000V electricity supply. hundreds of precast concrete segments used Battersea station box where fit-out A laser reflector can also be seen on the right-hand wall of the for lining the tunnels, while a high-angle 2. The trailing end of one of NLE’s will begin in 2019 ahead of tunnel for engineers to accurately keep the TBM on course. conveyor emerges from its depths to bring 100m TBMs. The machines will be completion a year later. The running spoil to the surface. The material will be 6. TfL calculates that removing 300,000 tonnes of spoil from the extracted once their job is complete tunnels will extend for another 20m transported down the Thames by barges to NLE excavations by barge will eliminate 40,000 lorry journeys. and sold back to French or so beyond the station box and up a site in Essex, where it will be used to create manufacturer NFM Technologies for to the boundary of Battersea Dogs Each barge can transport 1,600 tonnes of material. TRANSPORT redeployment on another project. and Cats Home in the distance. FOR LONDON. arable farmland. RAIL’s guide, Jonathan Cooper, is

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THE NLE ROUTE

Source: Transport for London.

project manager for the tunnels, and is being built from the top down. A vast 100m-long TBMs can advance at a rate of estimates that of the 20,000 precast concrete concrete raft has already been laid which 30m a day. This includes the installation of segments required for the entire project, will eventually bear the weight of oversite approximately 20 1.5m-wide concrete-lined there are only enough to support two to development, while earth is dug out from rings. three days of tunnelling on site at any one around it. The construction schedule also Each complete ring is made up of five time. This is because the size of the worksite means that tunnelling takes place before precast concrete segments - it takes and the competing demands of other nearby the station boxes are excavated to the same approximately 30 minutes to excavate the construction projects restricts FLO to relying depth, unlike Crossrail, where the station earth and another 20 minutes to construct on Just-In-Time delivery of material. boxes were built first, in advance of the TBMs each one. The worksite is split roughly into two reaching them. The TVM is operated by about 15 people halves, because immediately adjacent to the Entering the northernmost of the working three shifts every 24 hours, and it launch shaft is Battersea Station box, which two tunnels, Cooper explains that the excavates the tunnel bore to a diameter of 6m, which is reduced to 5.7m after the rings are put in place and backfilled with grout. This makes the tunnels slightly narrower than Crossrail, but wider than the rest of the Northern Line, with room for an escape walkway. Although the route of the tunnels has been carefully mapped, Cooper says that vibration levels from the TBMs are continually monitored given the proximity of a large number of Victorian and Georgian terraced houses, and both the Northern and Victoria lines near Kennington. FLO has an added advantage, in that the tunnelling teams for Crossrail encountered similar geological conditions between 2012-2015, and have been able to share that knowledge. Should Crossrail 2 be given the go-ahead to open as planned in 2033, then that process will continue, potentially keeping Cooper and his team busy underground for many years to come. He says: “We’re mainly digging through London clay, which is a really good tunnelling medium as it’s quite easy to control. But there are other hazards like critical utilities, and we pass right under Oval station, so we’re carrying out a lot of monitoring in anticipation of that, and so we stay within our agreed tolerances. We’re mainly digging through London clay, “We’ve learned a lot of lessons from Crossrail, however, and we’re building on which is a really good tunnelling medium as it’s that best practice. A lot of the people here have worked on Crossrail and these TBMs quite easy to control. have been designed using knowledge of how Jonathan Cooper, Project Manager for tunnels, TfL the Crossrail TBMs behaved.” ■

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