Stratford International - opening date

[su31]

It has now been announced that the extension to Stratford International will open on 4th July 2011...

[radbod]

And the source of this announcement?

[Deep Level]

I too would be interested in knowing the source as many people tend to go on hear-say these days, so I'm not going to get excited just yet...

[Deleted]

Finally!

At last we can take those stickers off the C stock line diagrams.

[malcolmffc]

I've also had a senior TfL worker tell me the opening date would be the 4th.

[Deleted]

London Underground staff have been informed in a internal magazine that the line will be open on 4th July.
As they seem to be ripping up the new platforms at Canning Town station, perhaps somebody should inform the DLR of the opening date.

[su31]

Jun 23, 2011 10:43:29 GMT @radbod said:

And the source of this announcement?

This was from an LU staff / ticketing bulletin.

[Deleted]

Somebody should tell the DLR because the minutes of the recent Newham Public Transport Liaison Group (15 June) have the DLR rep as saying it is opening in August

mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=781&MId=8318&Ver=4

Stratford International – Opening in August. Along with Stratford High Street to be ready for the opening of Westfield.

[Deleted]

Jun 24, 2011 14:24:32 GMT @docklands said:

.....the minutes of the recent Newham Public Transport Liaison Group (15 June)

An interesting little read, because buried down inside is this little comment -

"Councillor Vaughan queried the original opening date of Stratford International DLR station and asked if any financial penalty the delay was incurring. Sharon advised that the constructor had already reached the cap and were incurring a financial penalty. DLR are frustrated that there was an ongoing arbitration process and any damages would go to Transport for London (TfL)."

So we are having a very significant contract dispute with the contractor on the project, if they have both reached the delay cap and gone to arbitration. It will have been going on for many months to have reached this stage. Why has this contract dispute never been described before as the reason for the big delay, instead of all the silly stuff about being over a year late opening now because of the cables being stolen and things like that. What is the argument about?

[Chris M]

This is just a guess, but it wouldn't surprise me if cable thefts are the primary reason for the delay and the contractors are in dispute with DLR/TfL about whether/how the penalty clause in the contract applies where the cause of the delay is the actions of a third party.
If this is the case, then the reason the cable thefts have been given as the cause of the delay is because they are the cause. If the contractural dispute is just about who is liable for the costs then there would not be any reason for DLR to publicly blame the contractors for the delay. Indeed, if the arbitration is about whether the contractors are liable, it would be very unwise for DLR to issue statements that may be interpreted as prejudging the outcome.
If the cause of the arbitration is as I have guessed it to be, then I would hope that future contracts would be worded so that matters of this nature were clearer.

[Deleted]

No, that would not be any reason for delay. It's all written out in the standard construction contract. Stealing of materials and all the other issues you can think of are covered for who is responsible at any moment, because they happen on so many projects and there is a long history.

Even when there is a argument about something, another part of the contract says you carry on with work while arguing about any law.

[Chris M]

Jun 24, 2011 18:59:36 GMT @diana said:

Even when there is a argument about something, another part of the contract says you carry on with work while arguing about any law.

Which would imply that the dispute at arbitration is not the reason for the delayed opening, which in turn would explain why DLR are not blaming it for the delay.

[Deleted]

DLR gave the reason for the delay at the previous meeting as being communications issues following a sub-contractor going into receivership.
mgov.newham.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=781&MId=7762&Ver=4

Councillor McAuley asked for clarification on the communication issues that caused the delay on the Stratford extension. It was explained Sub-Contractors went into receivership at the end of last year; the new contractors had to undertake the design and installation.

[version3point1]

My old manager had stated that should they not get themselves into gear by July, big fines will be had. When the took the hoarding down at Stratford Regional Station, we were told it was to give the impression that they were 'getting there'.

We were all told it was going to open in March... :-P

[Deleted]

July 2010 was first quoted to me some 18 months ago, and to that end my friends from Berlin were looking forward to a ride on it in September 2010. Ah well, maybe September 2011 then!!

[Deleted]

From Berlin eh? Cough... U55!... Cough

[Deleted]

;D ;D ;D

[Deleted]

Does anyone actually know what the frequency will be between Stratford International and Beckton/Woolwich Arsenal? I would have expected them to build a 3/4 platform terminus at Strat Int. to maximise the possible frequency but they didn't do so. Therefore I'm guessing it can't be more than 6tph to Beckton, 6tph to Woolwich Arsenal

[superteacher]

Jun 26, 2011 10:51:58 GMT @martello736 said:

Does anyone actually know what the frequency will be between Stratford International and Beckton/Woolwich Arsenal? I would have expected them to build a 3/4 platform terminus at Strat Int. to maximise the possible frequency but they didn't do so. Therefore I'm guessing it can't be more than 6tph to Beckton, 6tph to Woolwich Arsenal

I'm sure 12 tph will be more than sufficient.

[davidp]

Jun 26, 2011 10:51:58 GMT @martello736 said:

Does anyone actually know what the frequency will be between Stratford International and Beckton/Woolwich Arsenal? I would have expected them to build a 3/4 platform terminus at Strat Int. to maximise the possible frequency but they didn't do so. Therefore I'm guessing it can't be more than 6tph to Beckton, 6tph to Woolwich Arsenal

As the July 2011 Modern Railways confirms, the frequency when the line opens will be an x8min service to Woolwich Arsenal at peak times and a x10min service to Beckton at other times. As I've said tirelessly on other threads, there just aren't enough trains to do anything else

[Deep Level]

www.wharf.co.uk/2011/06/dlrs-stratford-international-e.html

[causton]

I was about to say that article looked a bit out of date - saying the Jubilee would be finished by the end of July (when it's just about done now!) - then I realised it was written at the start of the month

[Deleted]

Jun 28, 2011 13:31:02 GMT causton said:

I was about to say that article looked a bit out of date - saying the Jubilee would be finished by the end of July (when it's just about done now!) - then I realised it was written at the start of the month

technically speaking the article is accurate. I believe the Neasden depot will only be completely resignalled toward the end of July.

[Deep Level]

Our best friend Boris:

I'm sorry? Correct me if I'm wrong but did he just say "On time and on budget"?

[Deleted]

Everything that comes out of Johnson's mouth is a half truth, he has a clever tongue.

[Deleted]

I just wonder that when the STI branch eventually does open, how many tourists will end up at "Abbey Road" (in ignorance), expecting ................

They wouldn't would they ?? ;D ;D

[Deep Level]

Jun 29, 2011 19:59:09 GMT @reganorak said:

I just wonder that when the STI branch eventually does open, how many tourists will end up at "Abbey Road" (in ignorance), expecting ................

They wouldn't would they ?? ;D ;D

You might have to explain that for me

[Deleted]

Shame on you, they are in NW8!

[norbitonflyer]

Jun 29, 2011 22:01:02 GMT Dstock7080 said:

Some of us remember that Abbey Road was synonymous as the location of recording studios for a reasonably famous quintet in the 1960s.
.

Quintet? Strange - I can only count four in this picture

I wonder how many people will end up taking photos here

[slugabed]

Jun 30, 2011 6:06:37 GMT norbitonflyer said:

Jun 29, 2011 22:01:02 GMT Dstock7080 said:

Some of us remember that Abbey Road was synonymous as the location of recording studios for a reasonably famous quintet in the 1960s.
.

Quintet? Strange - I can only count four in this picture

Someone has been mucking about with the stripes of that zebra....!