Further Blow For Ealing Broadway Station Redevelopment
No contractors appointed yet for three of the six western Crossrail stations
It has been revealed that crucial redevelopment work at Ealing Broadway station has been delayed because contractors have still not been appointed.
Before Christmas, Ealing Council leader, Julian Bell, sent a letter to both Peter Hendy, Chair of Network Rail and Mark Wild, Chief Executive of Crossrail raising concerns over the lack of progress describing ongoing work at stations in the borough as ‘piecemeal and slow’.
New information has come to light (as reported in New Civil Engineer) which sheds light on the delay. Acton Main Line, West Ealing and Ealing Broadway all require upgrades to bring them up to the Crossrail standard but Network Rail said it had not yet appointed a contractor for these stations.
At Ealing Broadway plans originally included a new entrance canopy, new façade, a ticket hall twice the size of the existing one, four new lifts, stairway improvements, platform extensions and new toilet facilities.
Works at Acton Main Line include a new ticket hall building, new lifts, platform extensions, new platform canopies, lighting and information screens. West Ealing is to have a new glass and steel ticket hall building, a new footbridge with lifts as well as platform extensions and platform widening.
Some progress had been seen over Christmas at Ealing Broadway station with roads in the area being shut to enable a large crane at the site. Bridge spans, lift shafts and steelwork, were installed by an existing contractor.
Crane at Ealing Broadway station over the Christmas holidays
The company 'Hochtief' has been appointed to carry out upgrades on three other stations that make up the
six western Crossrail stations – Southall, Hayes & Harlington and West Drayton.
However,
Network Rail have described the procurement process for the remaining three Ealing stations as “ongoing”.
There is also a growing belief that the designs shown on the hoarding around the station are to be ‘descoped’ for a less ambitious scheme four and a half years after they were first proposed. It is understood that Crossrail now believes that the bridge would not be able to carry the supports for the canopy and alternative designs are being considered.
The delay in appointing a contractor is yet a further blow to the stations - the original opening has already been pushed back from December 2018 to December 2019.
It's expected there will be another consultation on the station designs the new year.
An Ealing Council spokesperson said:
''The council met with Crossrail and Network Rail earlier this week and they let officers know that contractors will be appointed in the next 2-3 weeks.''
The original access to the station at Ealing Broadway
January 24, 2019