Works to the Railway at St Albans this Christmas - Day 3

Construction of the Radlett Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI) continues near London Colney & St Albans, the line has been closed to Freight, Thameslink & East Midlands Trains this Christmas whilst the 7000 tonne underpass is put into place on the railway. This video was filmed on the third day of a 9 day closure.

[@JPSteamMedia]

Thank you for documenting! I'm a trainee driver on this route, will be interesting to go over when the line reopens after Christmas.

[@masekwm]

Good luck with the training, I've recently applied for the 2025 trainee pool

[@johncamp2567]

I find it somewhat fantastical, that all this extreme, super-heavy-duty construction occurs without any visible disturbance to the catenary!

[@danielfishman6799]

Even more amazing is that - as a local resident - I heard nothing last night!

[@GaryB007]

It would have been pushed into place with hydraulic rams, which don't make much noise. Their pile driving and other work there has been very noisy for those adjacent to the site.

[@apc108]

I'm glad you are documenting this. I've watched this develop from literally nothing! I've had several unauthorised walks over the airfield in the times when it was closed off, but accessible from various places. I've lived near the site for 40 years. I was thinking you might have things a bit backwards, so I went to the SEGRO site to look at the master plan. They are the developers. When the drone was flying, you were saying that in front was the A414. In fact, that is the M25. The A414 would be behind the drone at that point. Where the yellow trucks are, stationary on the line, is towards London and the south. Just near where those trucks are, to their left, is where the line will diverge from the main line and you can see the lighter ground next to the trucks, where they have started to build an embankment. The divergence is just after the line crosses the M25. The line will swing around and then go under the bridge into the site, where there will be various sidings and warehouses. The people in Napsbury Park shouldn't be too affected by this and there will be no warehouses on their side of the line. The people in Park Street, which is on the other side of the site, will get a relief road through that side of the site and no HGV traffic will go through the village. The A414 will take HGV traffic directly to junctions on the M1 near Hemel, and the A1M at Hatfield and also, via the A1081, to the junction for the M25, near the Bell roundabout. From another Wandering Northerner, from Palmersville.

[@masekwm]

I’ve probably mixed up the audio, there is a line of white temp buildings the A414 entrance to the site is

[@robertwalsh1724]

Thanks!

[@masekwm]

Thank you again, that is very kind of you

[@Tobberz]

It's going so fast!

[@J5388T]

Nicely documented and unfortunately all this carefully planned work delivered to or ahead of schedule will never make the national press, they would only start to show an interest if things went wrong and reopening of the line was delayed. I work in the construction industry and I've seen all manner of complex projects delivered to time with no interest from the media!

[@Simon-ui6db]

Shame network rail ain't this quick on the Botley Road in Oxford.

[@andrewnorth170]

Can't believe they have a crow scarer, ha ha

[@GaryB007]

All this and no minimum target for rail transfers, or indeed for any rail transfers.

[@Cabral776]

Today is moving to the bridge and tunnel for Rail 4 train stations close St Albans the airline has been closed today's Midlands and Thameslink and London with Luton an opening until December 29th but today's Thameslink closed of London and Luton for construction Radlett srfi

[@malcolmhull2335]

It’s a disgrace. The former airfield was given free to Herts CC for use as a public park. Selling it for development is a betrayal

[@puddy73uk]

Love your videos. I look out for my house in the distance!! What drone do you use? And if you are interested Segro will be at Park Street village hall on 8/9/11/12 Jan showing he plans

[@masekwm]

Thank you, depends on situation - this video was with a DJI Air 3S but if it’s in a built up area I’ll be using a Mini 2

[@NightWatch1337]

I shall eat my hat 😂

[@Cabral776]

See you tomorrow at day 4 in Christmas Eve

[@masekwm]

Tomorrow is a trip to Camden for the bridge works there if weather allows, don't think I'll get the light here but assume it'll be back filling now. Missing the noise of the freight trains!

[@Cabral776]

@masekwm I know Is day 4 for after trip Camden for the bridge and then st Albans Railway work later today

[@danensis]

So, did they push it or pull it?

[@J5388T]

Its pushed in to place.