Bridge that Gap: Great Central Railway News

Good news indeed.

Is there any word on whether the abutment segments are being cast yet?- as in, now-ish? Or is that going to be done soon? (Bearing in mind concrete takes a few weeks to reach full strength, reasonable to believe that the piles will reach full strength around mid to late July, which is the earliest then that the abutments could go up, but the abutment sections themselves need to reach a certain strength before they can be moved- in my day job as a formwork designer we generally go for between a few days and a week to allow for concrete to reach a strength that the forms can be removed and the concrete becomes self-supporting.)

So the sooner the abutment sections are cast, the quicker they'll be able to be moved to site and erected (of course the earliest they could go up is dictated by the piles reaching strength). The sooner the abutments are up the sooner the mass concrete fill can go in- which again would need a few weeks to fully go off and reach strength- and it's only then realistically that the deck can be winched in. (Is that still pencilled in for August/ September?) It's the lead-times on the various elements of the project that are going to dictate the rate of progress now that the groundworks are more than half-done.

 

The non-offical site also has some updates, with interesting photos.

Noel

 

The first concrete abutment sections went in yesterday (15/07/17), so the bridge is now out of the ground and on the way 'up'. A magnificent achievement for everybody involved with the project in my opinion. GCR official video here:



I note for that on this video for the first time is a little bit asking that we please respect the construction site- and also on the Bridge to the Future site write-up a bit explaining that access is by invitation only. Not wishing to potentially kick a hornets nest, I would have hoped this was common sense- I do hope that the builders aren't having to deal with uninvited visitors and sightseerers acting the fool?

 

Looking back at some of my early posts on this topic, it seems that it is high time I "ate my words" as the gap seems to be close to being bridged! How good it is to be proved wrong sometimes!

 

Installing the new bridge was pretty much now or never, but closing the gap needs a lot more work besides that, which will take time and money. But with the bridge in place that work can be expected to take place steadily, if slowly.

 

It's somewhat ironic that the 'now or never' aspect (due to looming MML electrification) provided the necessary impetus to really get this project moving quickly (and no doubt made the fund raising easier due to the then-deadline), but that it now looks likely that electrification will be postponed by at least few years (optimist view) or shelved indefinitely for bi-modes (pessimist view).

Added 20/07/2017: As I expected, electrification beyond Kettering/Corby now abandoned for bi-modes. At least this means the GCR don't have to worry if unexpected issues seriously delay the MML bridge fitting...but I think it's got past the stage where that's likely now the piling's done.

I suppose the real silver lining for the GCR is that the bridge area will look much more 'heritage' without the wires - I expect some photographers will be pleased.

 

True, but isn't it fantastic to see this major project now well underway! Major for a preserved line, that is, but run-of-the mill civil engineering on the 'big railway'.

Andy

 

It's too bad they couldn't return it to double track, but that oversight pales in significance to the achievements of the gcr with this project, it will be fantastic when done, are the bridge abutments going to be brick clad?

 

The plans indicate that the abutments will be clad in blue bricks.

As far as I understand it a double track bridge was virtually impossible without spending many millions more and removing part of the aerospace factory, (they were not likely to agree to that anyway) and the next section towards railway terrace will be partly over their ground.

As it is the new bridge will be slightly further south than the original.

 

Operationally the single track bridge is not a significant issue for the foreseen level of traffic. Just think Royal Albert bridge and you will see how much traffic can actually traverse a short single track section.

 

Further video update

 

Thanks to the little technical miracle called Chromecast, I just clicked on the "play on TV button" and this video played on my 65" TV. Somehow it seems much more impressive and 'real' that way!

Real progress, great to see, all systems go!

It's great to live in what I would call the golden age of heritage railways *and* the computer equivalent of the industrial revolution.

(Guess who's had a few beers tonight...)

 

A couple of new pictures, look at the update for 6/8/17
http://www.gcrleicester.info/html/bridging_the_gap.html

 

I may have missed something, but why is the formation slightly south of the original? Is it because new buildings intrude?

 

I believe it is to avoid the Preci Spark Factory and Car Park.

Also an update on the official site:

http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/unify/

David R

 

Another update and video : http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/unify/ today.
Southern abutment concreting complete today and northern to be concreted Friday

 

Splendid progress! I wonder if the project will immediately move onto building the viaduct on the southern side so that disruption to Preci-Spark is minimised and kept to the shortest time?

I do wish Network Rail would tidy up the Midland platform, which I assume isn't used any more south of the road bridge across the station?

 

I got that impression from the report in the last copy of their magazine. The arched sections in the car parking area are composed of pre-cast segments (to be clad in brick), so will be presumably produced elsewhere and moved to the site & craned into place. At least that way, the Preci-Spark car parking area can be finished off fairly quickly.
Will be intersting to see what is said in the next Main Line which is due out in a couple of weeks.