SNOW HILL TUNNEL VISION

This article discusses the forthcoming public inquiry into Railtrack's #800M Thameslink 2000 scheme in Central London, which is due to start in June 2000. This scheme is the most complex project in the upgrading of the British rail network. The main objective of the scheme is to quadruple services through the Snow Hill Tunnel under the city of London, which provides the only north-south route for trains across Central London. The public inquiry will run for four to six months, and has already received over 1000 objections. The most formidable opponent to the scheme is the Corporation of London, which remains unhappy about the closure of the Moorgate branch of Thameslink. Railtrack replies that closing that line is the only way of fitting 12-car trains at Farringdon station. It believes that it is easy to prove the strategic need for Thameslink 2000, and the Strategic Rail Authority (SRA) supports the plans. Railtrack's Thameslink project team has spent months preparing its case on specific problems like anticipated disruption to train services and the demolition of listed buildings during construction. The through route will close completely for six months in 2004, when the station box at St Pancras will be built round an existing tunnel. The proposed new viaduct over Borough Market is a sensitive site with many old buildings, and has already been redesigned to meet local objections.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/49957551
• Corporate Authors:

  RAIL PROFESSIONAL LTD

  PO BOX 77
  HORSHAM, WEST SUSSEX  United Kingdom  RH13 5QH
• Authors:
  • Clifton, P
• Publication Date: 2000-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: p. 16-7
• Serial:
  • Rail Professional
  • Publisher: Cambridge Publishers Limited
  • ISSN: 1476-2196
  • Serial URL: http://www.cpl.biz/ourwork/general/rp.htm

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Abandonment; Attitudes; Bridges; Construction; Improvements; Local government agencies; Organizations; Policy; Public participation; Public transit; Railroad stations; Railroad tracks; Railroad transportation; Tunnels; Urban areas
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 2267: Attitude (psychol); 3455: Bridge; 1105: Closing down (transp line); 3655: Construction; 9108: Improvement; 192: Local authority; 9057: Organization (association); 173: Policy; 142: Public participation; 744: Public transport; 1173: Rail bound transport; 1095: Station (railway); 3374: Tunnel; 8119: United Kingdom; 313: Urban area
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; Construction; Policy; Public Transportation; Railroads; Society; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00798030
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Sep 8 2000 12:00AM