My Thoughts On Tube Noise At Walthamstow Central
This report in the Standard is entitled Homes in Walthamstow hit by ‘jack-hammer’ Tube train noise after Victoria line upgrade work.
It describes how after all of the upgrade work I described in What Really Happened At Walthamstow Central, noise levels have increased in some of the houses by the station. This is an extract.
Resident Lynda Bailey said the noise, which strikes about every three minutes during peak hours and less frequently the rest of the time, began after Transport for London undertook engineering work over the summer.
“We bought this house about 10 years ago knowing it was above the southbound tunnel of the Victoria line.
“We came a couple of times – it was a rumble but we deemed it to be reasonable noise, as did everyone else.
“But this is unacceptable. I would liken it to a jack-hammer in the next room, like a banging sound … It’s almost like we’re on a Tube platform itself.”
Tonight, I had supper with my son in Walthamstow. He told me how one of his friends lives in a hoise, where the noise has reduced considerably since the work.
It’s all very curious.
Taking my answers from this article in Rail Engineer, there are major differences, indicated in this extract.
Careful survey work of the tunnels checked every millimetre of available space – especially length. The new crossover design is a technical step-change in that it involves the use of Sonneville Low Vibration Track (LVT) – a track system embedded in slab concrete. The point ends have been taken as far as practicable into the tunnels to achieve the longest possible crossover length. Coupled with new components, the maximum speed has been raised to 60kph (35 mph) – enough to secure the required turnround and the 36 trains per hour throughout the line.
Put simply, the crossover should generate less noise because of the Low Vibration Track, but because of the increased speed, more noise could be generated unless LVT was used for a lot more of the line.
I would think that my son’s friend lives over the crossover and its LVT, whereas the other complainants are on lines, where the trains are now going faster. The Standard reports this.
“Our engineers are treating this as a priority and have been improving and renewing the track beneath their properties over the last week.
Hopefully, this will affect a solution. If not, I suspect that London Underground will have a solution in their toolbox.
I have been involved in various noise and vibration issues in the past and in most cases a simple solution is usually found.
If they can’t find one, then I suspect they’ll lay a bit more Low Vibration Track.
An Excellent First Month For The Borders Railway
According to this article on the BBC, which is entitled Borders Railway journeys top 125,000 in first month of operation, the Borders Railway has started with a high level of usage.
I suspect a lot of the usage in the first month is probably down to the novelty value of the railway and we won’t get a true pattern of usage until a couple of months.
But if this level of usage, is sustained, the following will happen.
- New four-car IPEMU trains will be procured for the railway, as they could handle the route with ease and would double the capacity.
- Planning will start to extend the route to Hawick and Carlisle.
Network Rail will also have to look seriously into how they calculate traffic forecasts.
Could Another Overground Platform Be Squeezed In At Clapham Junction Station?
Clapham Junction station has two Overground platforms, 1 and 2, at the Northern side of the station.
This Google Map shows the platforms at the station.
Clapham Junction Platforms 1 and 2
Platforms 1 and 2 are continuous at the top, with one on the left. Note that Class 378 trains are in both platforms.
These pictures show Platforms 1 and 2 and the space behind.
I don’t know whether another platform could be fitted in, but I suspect, if London Overground needed another one, then with some reconstruction and movement of the various cabins and boxes, then one could be built.
I Don’t Go In Cars Very Often
Listening to the Jokeswagen Scandal radio in bed this morning, I realised that since I moved to London in December 2010, I’ve hardly been in a car at all.
I thin the longest trip I’ve done is a couple of journeys back from football at Ipswich after football because the trains were on the blink.
I’ve obviously taken the occasional taxi, but it just shows how relevant cars are to my way of life.
Every Problem Has An Invention To Help
This article with video on the BBC entitled Migrant crisis: Inventor creates inflatable tube to save lives, is a heart-warming story about an invention, that has come out of the migrant crisis in the Mediterranean.
I can’t believe that it doesn’t have other live-saving applications.
The Anonymous Widower 