The Anonymous Widower

From Mitre Bridge To Ladbroke Grove – 16th July 2015

I walked from Mitre Bridge to Ladbroke Grove along the |Grand Union Canal.

One aim was to see if I could get decent pictures of North Pole Depot, the Crossrail works and the flyover to the East of the depot.

I am endebted to this article on London Reconnections entitled Old Oak Common Part 2 – Putting the pieces together for this description of what happens in this area.

The track layout below is derived from the Context Reports produced in 2009 by Crossrail for each local authority, and then checked where possible against the HS2 plans. Among other features this shows a new ramp joining the existing GWML empty stock flyover just east of OOC. This new ramp gives a clear route to the Crossrail depot independent of the GWML depot lines, and the plans show it being built across the finger of land at the west end of the ex-Kensal Green Gas Works development site. It will be double track, and the alignment on the incline back down towards Old Oak Common will be widened so that the GWML empty stock has a segregated track down from the flyover.

So the flyover is so that empty stock can get between the depots at Old Oak Common and Paddington.

Note that some of the new Crossrail tracks can be seen in the foreground of the pictures of North Pole Depot, which will be used for the Hitachi Class 800/801 trains for First Great Western. The tracks closest to the fence are the tracks leading to Crossrail’s depot. The two actual running tracks are further over and hidden by the ramp up to the flyover. They can be seen in this post in front of the retaining wall.

I’m not sure where actually Crossrail’s depot will be, but Wikipedia states that it will be at Old Oak Common. The article goes on to indicate that all will change again, when HS2 runs through the area.

July 16, 2015 - Posted by AnonW | Transport/Travel | Canals, Crossrail