Feltham Depot – 4th January 2020
Work has now fully started on the construction of the new Feltham Depot.
It’s not going to be a small depot.
Syon Lane Station – 4th January 2020
These pictures show the current state of the new footbridge at Syon Lane station.
I must admit that ~I’m rather disappointed with the design of this footbridge.
The design is rather utilitarian.
I would have thought, it could have been more integrated with the road bridge. Perhaps that is to be replaced?
Perhjaps it will be better, when it is finished.
I remember, when they started to build it, that land was cleared further up the platforms. Has there been a rethink, in the middle of the project?
Feltham Station – 4th January 2020
The platforms appear to have been extended over the level crossing and it looks like the major work left to do, is to finish the bridge and do the landscaping.
This certainly has been a comprehensive project.
Engineers Want Tunnel Of Love Under Irish Sea To Unite UK
The title of this post is the same as this article on the Sunday Times.
This is the introductory paragraph.
The UK really could become a United Kingdom, according to top engineers who propose linking Britain and Northern Ireland with a high-speed rail tunnel under the Irish Sea.
The possibility of such a tunnel, is all down to improvements in tunnelling techniques.
- Tunnelling speeds have increased by three times in the last thirty years and could double in the next ten.
- Future tunnel boring machine would line the tunnel using cement mixed with the rock debris.
- It should also be remembered, that once built, tunnels don’t suffer from the weather.
Behind the plan are the Institution of Civil Engineers and the British Tunnelling Society.
The report is also suggesting these tunnels.
- To the Isle of Wight
- Weston-super-Mare to Cardiff
- Under the Humber
As to the Irish tunnel, the article discuses these routes.
Anglesey and Dublin
It would be fifty miles and an engineering possibility. But would it be too sensitive politically, so soon after Brexit.
Stranraer and Larne
Possible, but there are reportedly a million tonnes of World War Two bombs dumped in the area and a lot of connecting railways would need to be built.
North of Liverpool And South Of Belfast via The Isle Of Man
This sounds crazy and would involve nearly a hundred miles of twin tunnels.
- But it is the preferred route!
- Could the tunnelling conditions be excellent?
- It appears the North of the Isle of Man is flat farming country.
- The article gives tunnelling costs at £80million per mile, so it would be an £8billion pound project.
- It could be easily linked to the West Coast Main Line and High Speed Two at several places.
- It could carry freight as well!
It is going to be very interesting to read the report.
Conclusion
Have the engineers been watching The Great Escape too often?
Possibly, but engineering is the science of the possible and politics is dreams of the impossible.
