The Anonymous Widower

Nine Elms Gateways By Projects Office

I first heard of this project in September last year, in this article on Ian Visits, which is entitled Nine Elms Railway Arch To Be Opened As Pedestrian Tunnel.

Ian introduces the problem like this.

A blocked off railway arch under the tracks in Nine Elms could be opened up as a new pedestrian tunnel. What is officially plain Arch 42 would create a walking link that starts just outside the back of the future Nine Elms station on the Northern line and the cluster of new blocks of flats and the US Embassy on the north side of the mainline railway.

I would appear to be a shorter walking route.

This Google Map shows the area.

Note.

  1. The substantial box-like structure with all the buttresses in the South-East corner of the map is the future Nine Elms station.
  2. Arch 42 is one of the arches, that pass under the railway crossing the North West corner of the map.

It would appear that the proposal to turn the arch into a tunnel could be a good idea.

This article on SWLondoner is entitled Nine Elms Viaduct To Get “Tunnel Vision” Makeover and gives a few details of the project.

This page on the Projects Office web site shows a visualisation of the tunnel.

Have a look and see what you think!

Note.

  1. In the visualisation, there is a signal gantry across the track, which is also shown in the map above.
  2. What will be the building material? Brick, steel or even recycled plastic?

I used to know a free-style bricklayer, who would have created an interesting portal.

I like the design and can’t wait to see it in reality!

You certainly won’t miss it, if you’re looking for it to get to the US Embassy or another building on the other side of the tracks.

Conclusion

Could Projects Office have come up with a distinctive way of making tunnels under railways and roads more welcoming?

February 13, 2021 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , , , | 1 Comment

First Planning Applications Due On Northumberland Line

The title of this post, is the same as that of this article on the News Post Leader.

I described the Northumberland Line projevt in Trains: £34m For Revival Of 50-Year-Old North-East Railway Line, which I wrote a fortnight ago.

This paragraph from the News Post Leader article, describes the scope of the project.

The project will upgrade 18 miles of track, open six new stations, three new footbridges and new signal locations.

And this paragraph, describes the initial work.

Planning applications are set to be submitted to the council for new stations at Ashington and Northumberland Park in North Tyneside, along with a new footbridge at Chase Meadows in Bebside.

It is aimed to open the passenger service in 2024.

Chase Meadows Footbridge, Bebside

This Google Map shows the location of the new footbridge at Chase Meadows in Bebside.

Note.

  1. The A189 dual-carriageway running North-South.
  2. The single-track Northumberland Line curving in a similar direction
  3. Blyth Academy looks to be an important school.
  4. Chase Meadows runs from the Academy to the railway.

I have no clue, as to where Bebside station is to be built, but it would seem logical for this to happen on the sizeable plot between the road and the railway. This currently appears to be a small farm, with horses in the fields.

This second Google Map shows where the railway crosses the road.

Note, the path going alongside the road to Asda.

Will the bridge be built on the North-East or South-West side of the railway?

I will assume it will be step-free with either ramps or lifts.

This picture shows Horden station.

This station is South of Newcastle and only has ramps, so will something similar be built here?

 

 

 

 

February 13, 2021 Posted by | Transport/Travel | , , , | Leave a comment