CTRL_ECML_1.jpg (122103 bytes)

Western Portal for the London-Stratford-Ripple Lane Tunnel (CTRL Stage 2), down Gliford Street, seen from the East Coast Line, close to the last points before London King's Cross. 1st December 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

CTRL_ECML_2.jpg (69166 bytes)

Western Portal for the London-Stratford-Ripple Lane Tunnel (CTRL Stage 2), down Gliford Street, seen from the East Coast Line, close to the last points before London King's Cross. One can also notice the bridge for the North London Line (Stratford-Willesden Jct) on the left. 1st December 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

CTRL_ECML_3.jpg (79497 bytes)

Forthcoming CTRL Bridge to be pushed above the East Coast Main Line, between Gliford Street and London St-Pancras area. This bridge will then be wrapped so as to contain noise and vibration in this densely-populated area (Borough of Camden). The portal for the Tunnel to Straford and Ripple Lane is visible in the background, down Gliford Street. One can also notice the bridge for the North London Line (Stratford-Willesden Jct) on the left. 03rd November 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

DSC00148.jpg (31348 bytes)

Sunday 26 September 2004 Travelling on service 9148 London-Brussel Fawkham Junction, tracks in middle marks end CTRL section 1 Photo taken by Erwin Lamens erwin.lamens@robinstravel.be & www.robinstravel.com/treinen.htm

DSC00154.jpg (25159 bytes)

SUNDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2004 CHUNNEL ENTRANCE FOLKESTONE DIRECTION FRANCE PHOTO TAKEN BY ERWIN LAMENS erwin.lamens@robinstravel.be & www.robinstravel.com/treinen.htm

Fawkham_Junction_CTRL.jpg (103295 bytes)

Sunday 26 september 2004 travelling onboard Eurostar 9148 London-Brussels At Fawkham Junction we leave classic line and speed up to join the first part of Channel Tunnel Rail Link via Ashford towards the Channel Tunnel, the middle tracks will enter service in 2007 with the opening off CTRL part 2 till London St Pancrass Digital photo: Erwin Lamens

ukmiscCTRL_Dollands_Moor1.jpg (117063 bytes)

Flyover for the London-bound CTRL track, seen from the A20 Ashford-Folkestone The Chunnel-bound CTRL track is located between the M20 Swanley-Folkestone and the Freight Yard. 14th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_Dollands_Moor2.jpg (144508 bytes)

CTRL and the Old Boat Trains Route seen from the Bridge for the A20-Hythe Road. From Left to Right: Freight Yard, Transitional tracks Eurotunnel-Network Rail (2 tracks with 25kV AC catenary and 750V DC live rail), CTRL (London-bound track only), and the Old Boat Trains Route (2 tracks, with 750V DC live rail) Until September 2002, Continental Junction between Eurotunnel and Network Rail (ex-Railtrack) tracks was located between the transitional tracks and the forthcoming CTRL London-bound track, at a place still visible on this pic. In order to avoid any flat crossing, Continental Junction was relocated almost 1km-2/3mi further west, close to the Eastern Portal of Saltwood Tunnel. 14th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_Dollands_Moor3.jpg (125094 bytes)

CTRL and the Old Boat Trains Route seen from the Bridge for the A20-Hythe Road. From Left to Right: the Old Boat Trains Route (2 tracks, with 750V DC live rail), CTRL (London-bound track only), Transitional tracks Eurotunnel-Network Rail (2 tracks with 25kV AC catenary and 750V DC live rail) and the Freight Yard. The New Continental Junction is further in background, right of the CTRL flyover. One can notice the voltage changeover panel "750 BR" for the transitional tracks, dating back to the early-90s, at a time when British Rail was still alive... Catenary on Old Boat Trains Route does not extend longer than the portal of Saltwood Tunnel. 14th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_FawkhamJct-SouthfleetJct1.jpg (151849 bytes)

CTRL1 seen at its very begining at Longfield, without 25kV AC catenary and still with 750V DC live rail. Just before the final curve, the signalling mast to Fawkham Junction. In the background, a Class 412 of Connex South Eastern (still in BR-Network South East livery) running from London Victoria to Dover Priory, via Chatham. 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_FawkhamJct-SouthfleetJct10.jpg (149000 bytes)

CTRL seen from the Southfleet-Northfleet Road, curving towards the East. This portion does not re-use the route of the defunct Fawkham Junction-Gravesend West and marks the real start of the new route. One can see the Interchange for A2/M2 Dartford-Dover further ahead. Stage 2 of the CTRL will dive under this interchange. The city in the background is Northfleet. 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_FawkhamJct-SouthfleetJct11.jpg (149285 bytes)

The end of the portion Fawkham Junction-Southfleet Junction, with both tracks diverging, so that the track to the Continent can fly over the very beginning of CTRL Stage 2. 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_FawkhamJct-SouthfleetJct3.jpg (98632 bytes)

CTRL seen from the Longfield-Swanscombe Road, looking towards Longfield and Fawkham Junction. 25kV AC catenary begins here, while 750V-DC live rail remain for a hundred yards, as of transition. Catenary is already of the same standard of French HSLs, but the track is still laid to Network Rail standards. 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_FawkhamJct-SouthfleetJct4.jpg (143266 bytes)

Same transitional portion, seen from the opposite embankment. 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_FawkhamJct-SouthfleetJct5.jpg (141822 bytes)

CTRL seen from the Southfleet Road Bridge, looking towards Southfleet Junction. The end of 750V-DC live rail is already in sight, together with the voltage changeover side mast "25000 HSL". "CAB" also indicates that (TVM-430) Cab-signalling takes over NR conventional signalling afterwards. 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_FawkhamJct-SouthfleetJct6.jpg (141013 bytes)

CTRL seen from the Southfleet Road bridge, looking towards Longfield and Fawkham Junction. Note the voltage changeover side mast "750 RT", which rather ought to be "750 NR"... 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_FawkhamJct-SouthfleetJct7.jpg (125542 bytes)

CTRL seen from Southfleet Road, looking towards Southfleet 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_FawkhamJct-SouthfleetJct9.jpg (148987 bytes)

CTRL seen from the Southfleet-Northfleet Road, curving towards the East. This portion does not re-use the route of the defunct line Fawkham Junction-Gravesend West and marks the real start of the new route. 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_Medway5.jpg (145839 bytes)

CTRL seen looking towards London, with the Bridge for the A228 Cuxton-Strood 16th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_Sandling1.jpg (146157 bytes)

A new HSL along Mediterranean Shores? Well, not really... This is CTRL close to Sandling, looking towards the Chunnel. Like so many other areas, Kent was not spared by the Great Heatwave Summer 2003. Although the Channel is very close and visible in the background, railway passengers cannot see it, whether using the Old Boat Trains Route or brand-new CTRL. The wooden fence stands between both lines. 14th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_Sandling2.jpg (134182 bytes)

CTRL seen West of Sandling, looking towards Westenhager, Ashford and London. The Old Boat Trains Route is hardly visible on the left, as it is lower than the HSL and surrounded with steep embankments. 14th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_Sandling3.jpg (147859 bytes)

CTRL seen from the Bridge for the M20-Hythe road, looking towards the Chunnel. One can notice that both tracks diverge in the background, with the chord to Dollands Moor Freight Yard in-between. The signalling mast on the right is that for Folkestone/Chunnel-bound trains using the Old Boat Trains Route. Sanling Station actually stands further right, off-pic. 14th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_Sandling4.jpg (131929 bytes)

CTRL seen from the heights of Saltwood. The tent and the short plateform alongside the London-bound track are for Sandling International Station. This short-lived station was built to cater for some of the CTRL inauguration ceremonies which took place on 16th September 2003. 14th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_Sandling5.jpg (120629 bytes)

CTRL seen from the heights of Saltwood, looking towards the Chunnel. From Left to Right: Chunnel-bound track, Freight chord to Dollands Moor (Freight Yard visible in the middle of this pic), London-bound Track. One can guess the location of Saltwood Tunnel, for the Old Boat Trains Route, underneath the flat area between the Freight Chord and the Track to London. 14th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)

ukmiscCTRL_Sandling6.jpg (144317 bytes)

CTRL seen from the heights of Saltwood, looking towards the Chunnel. From Left to right: Chunnel-bound track, Freight chord to Dollands Moor (Freight Yard visible in the middle of this pic), London-bound Track, with its flyover above the Old Boat Trains Route. The Eastern Portal of Saltwood Tunnel, for the Old Boat Trains Route, is just right of the white building at the very beginning of the Freight Yard. Folkestone is in the background, with the Eurotunnel Terminal on the left. The M20 Swanley-Folkestone looks very busy... 14th September 2003. P.L.Guillemin (plguillemin@yahoo.fr)