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needs of contractors and other involved will become operational by 2013 growth at the port of Southampton.
parties which has got to be good news. creating adequate space for the new Four extra through mainline platforms
track layout. The depot will be designed will improve train performance and
No climbing stairs to accommodate more trains and reduce overcrowding on the station. An
Conveniently, there is an existing potentially new Intercity Express trains additional southern platform will
underpass at the east end of the station in the future. improve capacity to Waterloo and the
that was closed after the war. The plan re-establishment of the disused tunnel
is to reopen this route to allow Reading Completion 2015 at the east end of the station will
to Gatwick trains to cross over to the The flyovers have been designed by improve access to the Reading to
north end of the station, without the NR civil engineering team and they Gatwick service. There is also potential
causing any conflict to other train will be completed by April 2015. That for a rail link to Heathrow Airport to be
movements. This will mean that airport seems a long time off, however, we developed.
traffic will not have to travel from one have been living with this bottleneck
side of the station to the other to catch for some time now and there is a Partnership
connections. substantial amount of engineering work To date, the local community appear
Also, a new footbridge will be built of all descriptions to be completed. We to be very positive and optimistic about
between platforms with escalator and will have to be patient. these proposals. So far, their voice has
lift access to all platforms. This will been heard and the door is wide open
mean that passengers will not have to So, to summarise:- and everyone is listening. Undoubtedly,
use any stairs to get about the station The existing layout offers little issues will arise and tensions will
and this portion of work is planned to opportunity to recover from operational emerge but so long as the current
be completed by 2012. problems due to the restricted layout. determination to involve all interested
This will be resolved with all routes parties and progress is achieved through
New train depot having separate paths thus avoiding the partnership, there is no reason why
Whilst all this work is progressing, the need for any crossing movements. passengers and public cannot enjoy a
intention is to build a brand new train The new flyover and Eastern Chord fast, trouble free experience as they
depot for First Great Western on the will improve capacity for passenger and glide smoothly through this currently,
North side of the tracks, opposite the freight trains and will accommodate the frustrating bottleneck to their final
existing train depot situated west of additional six trains a day that are destination, passing of course, a loaded
Cow Lane in the south side triangle. This currently forecast, in response to the freight train on the way.
october 2008 | the rail engineer | 19
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