31 January (Part 1) - The two weekly Crossrail photo album
Today’s the day when the Crossrail progress pictures get signed off. They have been accumulating for the past two weeks and from tomorrow the next lot will start appearing here.
I had hoped to accompany
this short report with an up to date account of
the problems with the fire escapes at St.
Benet’s Catholic Church. I wrote to the man who heads up their campaign a week
ago but with no response. I can only assume they are now happy with the morsels thrown to them by Crossrail.
During the past two weeks in Abbey Wood, Network Rail has laid more track, shoved more piles
into the ground, not quite finished building the first station wall and seen
their contractors fined by Bexley Council while backing their lorries into their site.
At the same time Bexley’s idiotic council attempts to curry favour for Crossrail trains to call at Belvedere, Erith and Slade Green.
David Evennett MP has been very busy on that front too.
The official word is that the first Southeastern train will call at the new Abbey Wood platform on 22nd
February although on Friday I heard the first hint of pessimism creeping into
the voice of one of their top site men, but he has a track record for pulling
off small miracles so don’t give up hope yet.
The pictures above illustrate how Network Rail tackles problems. One of Bexley’s
drains was working in reverse yesterday, water issuing from it and flooding the
road. Network Rail was soon out with its suckers and brooms. Contrast that with
what Bexley Council does nearby.