Engineering Focus

Work to construct the new bridge over the River Mersey is progressing well and all indications are the bridge will open on time in autumn 2017. Since our last update in October 2015 , visible signs of the bridge construction have begun to appear, most notably the northern and southern pylons which will support the bridge deck are now slowly rising up from their foundations.  Image taken on 15th of March shows the progress so far of the 3 pylons. On the Widnes side of the River, progress is being made on the approach viaducts which will take traffic from the A553 toward the new bridge. So far 2 spans have been poured and are now visible, with the MSS ( Moveable Scaffold System ) in place ready for the 3rd span to be poured. Construction of the approach viaduct making steady progress. Close up of the MSS which was in place to construct the 3rd span. Work in Widnes to connect the existing road network to the new bridge has reached a crucial stage, as of yesterday

Below are a selection of images from the main line test of a pair of class 387 ElectroStars which will soon be working on the Gatwick Express route between London Victoria and Gatwick Airport. At the time the units ( 387 211 and 210 ) were stopped at Crewe after testing on the West Coast Main Line.  In all 27 four car Class 387/2s have been ordered to replace the class 442s which currently serve on the Gatwick Express route. The first 387 went into services on the 29th of February 2016. Follow us on  Twitter  -   Facebook    For more information e-mail  Blog@EngineeringFocus.co.uk