Bridge that Gap: Great Central Railway News

I see there is a target figure for the next phase I.e. The factory flyover - has there ever been a cost estimate given for that sizeable embankment between this flyover and the canal bridge?


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From memory, the whole scheme was costed a few years back at £8-£9 million, but what savings have been made on the budgeted costs for the 2 phases completed, I don't know. There is still expediture required (after phase 3) on that embankment, the bridge by the Brush works and the embankment north of the MML. I think the shed removal phase has become seperate to the "gap" work now, though it obviously needs to be done in conjunction with the other works.

 

Lots more to do then, was under the impression that the bit between the new Rail bridge and old Canal bridge was mostly extant

 

Nope.....

 

Was largely removed by BR to build the spur line connecting to GCRN.

 

Well, it's all open ground...

Noel

 

Indeed, but with a factory on the left which carries out precision engineering work and is concerned about vibration, and a stream on the right which the relevant authorities want to maintain digger access to, hence not just a simple matter of putting the original embankment back in.

 

Any idea what approaches will be used to tackle those issues?

Noel

 

I think something similar to the Heathrow Express construction at Airport Junction (which allows an 'embankment' with much steeper sides, hence smaller footprint) was talked about at one time, some years ago, but what the latest thinking is I'm afraid I don't know. All will be revealed in due course, no doubt!

 

I wonder if cwr rather than jointed track might reduce vibration, and maybe a greater ballast depth or a layer of something with some "give" in it under the track?

I'll be interested to hear the solution.

 

Cork Underlay....

 

Ahh, but on top of chipboard or something else?

 

Polystyrene blocks ?

Bob.

 

When Network Rail/Railtrack were refurbishing the bridge over the Manchester ship canal at Irlam on the CLC Liverpool to Manchester line, they did away with the bridge that took the line over the original course of River Irwell. Polystyrene blocks were used for the infill to create the new embankment.

 

Poly blocks were used on the Nuneaton link from flyover to platform. Need to be well covered though as lineside fires could be interesting.


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The Canal bridge is still awaiting the lattice girders, but more brickwork pointing etc has been done.
Here are two pictures, taken today, of the site for the "Factory Flyover" bridges and arches for phase 3 and 4. There were three orange clad people, further down towards the engine shed, on the embankment base.

 

Perhaps someone was going to get 'Tangoed'

 

What is the relationship of the 2nd photo to Factory Flyover?

 

To the right of the picture are the remains of bridge abutment that went over the road that leads to the council tip, this will now be bridged by one of ex Reading bridge decks. New abutments either side of the road. Second reading span to the right and then two concrete arches to connect to the MML bridge.

 

As Mogulb says....but here is another picture which might make it clearer....
On the extreme right is the new MML bridge. Then it is anticipated there will be two blue brick faced concrete arches, two Ex Reading bridge decks with one crossing the road, then two more arches (needed to get the height needed for tall lorries to access the tip). This will be, to this side of the old brick abutment, just on the corner of the road.