Is The New Bay Platform At West Ealing Opening On August 1st?
I heard a rumour that the new bay platform at West Ealing station was going to open on the first of August, but I have just found a change in the timetable, that could mean that it is true.
If you look at the on-line timetables, you will find the following.
At present the first two trains after 07:00 from Greenford to West Ealing, are the 07:16 and the 07:46, which go on to Paddington in twenty-six minutes.
From the first of August, they are the 07:13 and 07:43 which are shown as only going as far as West Ealing, where you change for Paddington and do the journey in twenty-eight minutes.
The strange thing is that these two trains are the only ones before nine, that require a change for Paddington.
The times of trains from Hayes and Harlington to Paddington appear to change on the first too!
There is also an additional electric service leaving for Hayes and Harlington at 07:18.
Could it be that electric services are starting on the first of August too?
The Victorian Methods Worked
In Victorian Construction Methods, I noted how the Crossrail contractors, were throwing men and traditional methods into getting Hayes and Harlington station ready for the start of a Hayes Shuttle on the 16th of May.
These pictures, which I took today, would appear that they have made substantial progress.
Intriguingly, when I looked at the time-table a few days ago, I think it changed on the 16th of May. Now only one service has been moved backward by two minutes.
It would appear that perhaps Great Western Railway haven’t finalised the time-table yet. Perhaps they haven’t obtained the required trains yet!
Victorian Construction Methods
Brunel would have recognised the philosophy behind all the construction going on to complete the platforms and trackwork at Hayes and Harlington station, possibly in time for the timetable change on May 16th.
As you can see the contractor is using as many bodies as they can!
I remarked on this to a guy with a clipboard and he smiled widely. He certainly looked like he was enjoying his day in the sun!
If the Great Western Railway cn beg, borrow or steal some electric trains for the sixteen of May, I don’t give up hope of seeing an electric shuttle between Paddingdon and Hayes and ~Harlington stations.
After all the Great Western Electrification needs a victory and the industrious orange army seemed to be doing their best! Let’s hope it’s not all in vain!
The Oracle is still giving the current timetable and hasn’t been changed yet!
Work On The Platforms At Hayes And Harlington Station
I took these pictures of the extended Platforms 4 and 5 at Hayes and Harlington station on Wednesday.
Obviously, there would appear to be some work needed before the services to Hayes can start, as I wrote about in Hayes Shuttles To Start.
Hayes And Harlington Station – 28th March 2016
It would appear to my untrained eye, that most of the overhead wires needed for Crossrail are now up and ready at Hayes and Harlington station.
This station was originally wired some years ago for Heathrow Express, but it looks to me, that some of it has been replaced.
In the April 2015 Edition of Modern Railways, there is an article, which is entitled Operators Vying For Class 387s. This is said.
GWR is anxious to receive units so it can begin driver training ahead of introducing an electric service between Paddington and Hayes & Harlington in May. However, Govia Thameslink Railway is seeking to retain the sets for a longer period due to delays in introducing new Class 700 EMUs into passenger service as a result of a number of issues.
So as it looks that in a couple of weeks or so, the bay platform 5 at Hayes and Harlington station will be ready to run an electric service to Paddington, you can understand why GWR are anxious. After all, at least one of the Class 387 trains destined for GWR has even got the right colour doors.
If a May start is envisaged for an electric service between Paddington and Hayes and Harlington, does that mean that the days of the direct Paddington to Greenford service is numbered. Work does seem to be progressing on the bay platform at West Ealing station.
Hayes And Harlington Station – 28th February 2016
Work on the new platform and the station building, seems to be going on at Hayes and Harlington station.
They certainly seem to be building the new bay platform 5 to take the heaviest of passengers and their cases and buggies.
Things Seem To Be Moving On Crossrail’s Western Section
Returning from Windsor, I took the route via Slough and took these pictures.
Note.
- Slough station has a new fully accessible footbridge and a new bay platform seems to be being created at the London end of Platform 6.
- The overhead gantries certainly seem massive. They appear to be from Furrer + Frey.
- There is a loop line to the North side of Iver station.
- Hayes and Harlington station is getting a new platform.
- The bay platform at West Ealing station appears to be being readied for electrification and the Greenford Branch Line.
I shall have to go back in the next few days and check on progress.
But it does seem that things are moving along apace.
Before Crossrail – Hayes And Harlington
Another Work In Progress – Raring 7/10
Hayes and Harlington was busy with engineers, as they were dealing with the slow lines, that will be part of Crossrail.
This is a Google Map of the station.
Hayes And Harlington Station – Downloaded 7th July 2015
It was good to have a cabaret, whilst I waited for my train back to Paddington.
As with West Drayton, Crossrail have impressive plans for this station. They say this.
The existing Hayes and Harlington station building is located on the bridge over the railway tracks. A new larger Crossrail station will be built just north of the existing site. The local area is largely made up of low density, suburban housing, with the exception of the recent High Point Village residential development, the first of a number of developments set to substantially change the character of the station environs.
I have no reason to go to this station at the moment, but years ago in the days of Metier, we had our headquarters nearby for a time.
Looking at Crossrail’s plans, this could well be one of the better stations outside the centre of London.
The Anonymous Widower 