Examination of Witnesses (Questions 7520
- 7539)
7520. The final thing that personally upset
me—and I am sorry to say it, but it did personally upset
me—if I could take you to the diagram that I was emailed
on Friday? It is NE6(ii).[3]
I got that on Saturday, after being told that this Committee had
been cancelled for the day that I was due to come here—and
not being privy to that—and also asked if I was still going
to petition. I am sorry, but I am the only one from Redbridge.
I did not get that until Saturday and it is a little bit insulting
when I have raised issues about protection, environmental and
what have you, that everyone all around me, either side of me,
is labelled "May be eligible for noise insulation" and
all this sort of nonsense. I must be a quarter of a millimetre
out of some line or something. I do not actually want that. If
this thing has to go through and it cannot be built at Ilford—because
if we are going to have a training crossover where we are why
can we not have a training crossover at Ilford, and that is all
sidings and sheds there? But one can only presume that they are
going to sell that for housing because they are building a Romford
depot. But they have bought lots of land down there—upset
West Ham—why cannot they build the freight loop there? They
have bought the land and I am sure they can put it within the
confines of what is there. However, having said that, if we must
have it I would ask that the Committee gives serious consideration
to the requirements, that there are more substantial means of
protecting us and that the fence be raised a metre—the fence
that is there be raised a metre—and that there actually
be a proper security fence between the fence that is there and
perhaps a foot spare and a proper high security fence so that
if anyone does manage to get on to the railway property they cannot
get back over on to our property.
7521. Just to sum up: is it two lines or one?
Which way is it going? Is it serving the up line or the down line?
If it is serving the up line is there a crossover? If there is
a crossover at the western end why is there not one at the eastern
end? I just think that at the end of the day this has not really
been fully thought out. The initial responses have slowly been
improved upon over time and hopefully will be as a consequence
of today. Thank you, sir.
7522. Chairman: Thank you, Mr King. Before
we start, Mr Taylor, I want to comment that I really do think
it is unsatisfactory that people should be receiving documents
so close to the hearing like this, and we have to do better.
7523. Mr Taylor: Sir, the plan that you
have in front of you is actually a plan from the Environmental
Statement, which has been available to the members of the public
for a considerable period of time and is available online.
7524. Chairman: Bearing in mind that
we are coming to this hearing and bearing in mind that you had
it in mind to send them this then perhaps it might be better if
you sent it just a shade earlier.
7525. Mr Taylor: I hear what you say,
sir. Sir, I was proposing to call Mr Keith Berryman to explain
the operation of the freight route to the Committee to deal with
the concerns that Mr King has raised.
Mr Keith Berryman, recalled
Examined by Mr Taylor
7526. Mr Taylor: Mr Berryman, of course,
is well known to the Committee. Mr Berryman, can you explain why
Crossrail is constructing a new loop line in this location?
(Mr Berryman) A freight loop is required on
this section of line to enable freight trains to be overtaken
by passenger trains between Shenfield and Stratford. This is particularly
the case where a freight train is running out of course, it is
running late—very occasionally it runs early—and it
gets out of place on the timetable, so the freight train needs
to be put away somewhere. There is an existing loop at Manor Park
which we will have to shorten because of the platform extension
works that we are doing at Manor Park. Moreover, the loop at Manor
Park is not altogether satisfactory because it links the fast
lines, which are the lines normally used by freight, with the
E lines—those are the lines that Crossrail are going to
take over—due to the position of a flyover there. So the
fact is that that loop, which is somewhat less that satisfactory
already, would be shortened considerably by the Crossrail works
and we need to find another location for a loop.
7527. In relation to the loop that is proposed
are you proposing one or two lines?
(Mr Berryman) We are proposing one line, which
will be connected to the up line, that is the line going towards
London, and will be used for trains going in the up direction.
7528. Mr King raised some concerns about a crossover
being provided to serve the down lines, as I understand it.
(Mr Berryman) There is certainly no intention
to provide that. I have just discussed it with the permanent engineer
and he tells me there is no such proposal. In any event it would
be little use for loop trains which are going in the down direction
because they would have to cross over the up line to get into
the loop and that would present severe operational constraints
if that were to be done.
7529. Are there any viable alternative sites
for construction of the loop?
(Mr Berryman) No. We had a reasonably good
look up and down the line for alternative sites. There are no
sites where there is a loop available for the line and the length
at the same time without requiring a significant amount of property.
The site at Ilford would require some demolition of industrial
property if that was to be considered.
7530. What additional lighting is proposed in
association with the new loop?
(Mr Berryman) We are currently not proposing
any lighting in association with the loop, there would be a walkway,
a safe type walkway alongside the loop. We do not have any proposals
at the moment for lighting. If lighting were to be provided—this
is something we would need to talk Network Rail about—it
would be the low-level lighting which is at foot level to shed
a light onto the footpaths so people can walk along. There is
certainly no intention, I can confidently say, for high level
lighting that you might find in a factory situation or a supermarket.
7531. In relation to electrification, do you
know what the proposals are for electrification?
(Mr Berryman) The route would be electrified
at 25,000 volts. Much of the freight that comes down particularly
from the container ports at Ipswich and that place Harwich is
electrically hauled so we need to provide for electric benefits
and the loop as well.
7532. Thank you very much indeed, Mr Berryman.
7533. Chairman: Mr King, would you like
to ask some questions?
Cross-examined by Mr King
7534. Mr King: In the route window NE6
the things originally available, it says page 4 of NE6 7.23 "a
new track will be installed including a U-turn at the eastern
end of the track and a new train will crossover at the west end",
so that is wrong?
(Mr Berryman) That certainly appears to not
be the intention at the moment, yes.
7535. Then that picture is wrong as well which
we have seen today?[4]
(Mr Berryman) Which picture is
that?
7536. The aerial photograph.
(Mr Berryman) The aerial photograph does not
show where Crossrail goes, does it?
7537. It is confusing.
(Mr Berryman) The yellow line on the right-hand
side of the travel area is intended to represent the loop. The
short bit of junction with the existing up main line is shown,
towards the bottom of the picture there is a straight yellow line.
7538. It is actually in the middle, is not it?
It is joining the up main line?
(Mr Berryman) It is joining the up main line.
7539. I am not quite sure what your position
is, Mr Berryman, but what about in terms of increasing the height
of the fence and putting in additional security fencing?
(Mr Berryman) I think that is a matter which
obviously will be formed as part of the detailed design. It goes
without saying there is an obligation on us and on Network Rail
to keep the railway secure and the appropriate measures will be
taken to do that.
3 Crossrail Ref: P76, Environmental Statement, Goodmayes
Station Project Works and Impacts (NE6(ii) (REDBLB-10204-001) Back
4
Crossrail Ref: P76, Chadwell Heath Freight Loop-Western Section
Oblique Aerial View (REDBLB-10204-002). Back
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