About this event

50% Longer Trains - The Thameslink Programme Delivers 12-Car

Network Rail’s Thameslink Programme is transforming the capacity and performance of the north – south rail network through London.  Just before Christmas, at the 12 December  2011 Timetable Change, in the culmination of 3.5 years of intense activity, Network Rail delivered on time and to budget the infrastructure capability for 12 carriage trains to be operated on the Thameslink Route for the first time.

This presentation takes a look back at what was involved in delivering this 50% increase in train length capability, and gives an insight from the programme’s lead engineer, Chris Binns, into some of the challenges that were overcome along the way.

The extensive co-operation between industry parties is highlighted as the author takes a look back at the work involved in extending platforms in length at 12 stations, working with London Underground at two major London Stations, and training hundreds of train drivers in preparation for the Driver Only Operation of 12-car trains between Brighton and Bedford.

Chris illustrates this talk with some of the amazing time-lapse photography commissioned during the programme, including watching platform extensions assembled in a weekend at Elstree and Borehamwood station, and the journey of the 1200 Tonne Borough High Street Bridge built on top of the Borough Viaduct and jacked down onto a specialist transporter to trundle across the road over another long weekend.

Chris discusses the challenges of engineering management on a programme on such a massive scale, and finally looks forward to the second key output phase of the infrastructure programme, now that the London Borough of Southwark has recommended acceptance of the detailed plans for the reconfiguration of London Bridge station.

About the speaker

Senior Programme Engineering Manager, Chris Binns

Chris Binns is a graduate in Electronic Engineering.  He has spent 20 years working in the signalling supply industry in the UK, and 3 years working in the software services industry in the USA.  He joined Network Rail in January 2003 with the strategic objective to establish an ‘in-house’ signalling design team – now numbering over 200 engineers in eight offices around the country.   In April 2008 Chris was then seconded to the Thameslink Programme to carry out a 3-week long feasibility study looking into the potential development of main-line Automatic Train Operation (ATO) for the rolling stock specification for the new Thameslink trains.  Needless to say, both the secondment and Chris’s role were extended!  Chris has been the lead engineer on the Thameslink Programme since 2009, and is accountable for ‘all things technical’ on the programme.

Programme

17:30 - 18:30 Registration with light refreshments

18:30 - 20:00 Presentations and discussion

20:00 - 21:30 Networking reception