Recent Bakerloo and Overground closure [sleepers]

[1972stock3567]

About the recent Bakerloo line and Watford DC line closure. TFL said in the email that the engineering works were due to infrastructure upgrades and over 6,000 new sleepers. I went last Sunday and looked down at the sleepers and there was no difference.... I am really confused.

[rincew1nd]

Maybe the worksite wasn't exactly where you were looking?

With about three sleepers per yard that means about 1⅛ could have been fully re-sleepered. If they did both tracks at once (perhaps because the drainage had damaged the sleepers on both lines) then that's only just over ½mile.

[Chris M]

You are also assuming that you can reliably tell the difference between new and old sleepers from a moving train, that may be travelling on the track supported by the replacement sleepers.

[1972stock3567]

I would have guessed that the old wooden sleepers I saw wouldn't be the new concrete ones I would have expected to see.

[Dstock7080]

not a great pic but LU engineering train loaded with concrete sleepers in Queen's Park pfm.2, part of 7,000 sleepers replaced:

so they must have gone somewhere!

[1972stock3567]

hmmmm.......

[jimbo]

Between 11 and 19 February, the Watford Junction to Euston line was closed to accelerate the renewal of Network Rail infrastructure. We also took the opportunity to undertake station refurbishments at five locations. Key to this work was our Transplant team, working closely with Network Rail to share their expertise in sleeper replacement works.

The Bakerloo line was also closed between Queen’s Park and Harrow & Wealdstone during this period to facilitate the work. Passengers using the Bakerloo line and London Overground were advised to plan their journeys in advance of major improvements to both rail routes.

The overall works included: installing 7,000 modern concrete sleepers in place of wooden ones dating from the 1950s; replacing 28km of cabling for signals; structural improvements to five stations including platform resurfacing and roof canopy maintenance; renewing the track at Willesden and Queen’s Park stations; upgrading the power supply for London Underground and Overground trains; and carrying out signal maintenance work at Watford Junction.

This follows the successful completion of similar upgrades to a 17-mile stretch of the same lines in December. Two further closures are planned for later in the year.

[TfL Commissioner’s report - March 2023]