Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 12:55 23 Apr 2024
- Ten dead after Malaysia navy helicopters collide
Read about the forum [here].
Register [here] - it's free.
What do I gain from registering? [here]
 02/06/24 - Summer Timetable starts
17/08/24 - Bus to Imber
27/09/25 - 200 years of passenger trains

No 'On This Day' events reported for 23rd Apr

Train RunningCancelled
09:30 Weymouth to Gloucester
11:55 Paignton to Exmouth
Additional 12:25 Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-Super-Mare
12:54 Filton Abbey Wood to Bristol Temple Meads
13:01 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads
16:23 London Paddington to Oxford
18:00 Oxford to London Paddington
19:23 London Paddington to Oxford
21:02 Oxford to London Paddington
Short Run
10:52 Plymouth to Cardiff Central
10:55 Paignton to London Paddington
10:59 Cardiff Central to Penzance
11:10 Gloucester to Weymouth
11:20 Paignton to Exmouth
11:29 Weymouth to Gloucester
12:46 Avonmouth to Weston-Super-Mare
12:57 Exmouth to Paignton
13:10 Weston-Super-Mare to Severn Beach
14:36 London Paddington to Paignton
Delayed
08:15 Penzance to London Paddington
11:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour
11:46 Avonmouth to Weston-Super-Mare
An additional train service has been planned to operate as shown 12:03 Bristol Temple Meads to Weymouth
PollsThere are no open or recent polls
Abbreviation pageAcronymns and abbreviations
Stn ComparatorStation Comparator
Rail newsNews Now - live rail news feed
Site Style 1 2 3 4
Next departures • Bristol Temple MeadsBath SpaChippenhamSwindonDidcot ParkwayReadingLondon PaddingtonMelksham
Exeter St DavidsTauntonWestburyTrowbridgeBristol ParkwayCardiff CentralOxfordCheltenham SpaBirmingham New Street
April 23, 2024, 13:06:32 *
Welcome, Guest. Please login or register.

Login with username, password and session length
Forgotten your username or password? - get a reminder
Most recently liked subjects
[114] "Mayflower"
[89] You see all sorts on the bus.
[63] Where have I been?
[56] Theft from Severn Valley Railway
[53] Death of another bus station?
[30] Somerset and Dorset Devonshire Tunnel flood
 
News: the Great Western Coffee Shop ... keeping you up to date with travel around the South West
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
Author Topic: Frosting applied to footbridge windows at Reading  (Read 9658 times)
eightonedee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1536



View Profile
« on: December 18, 2019, 18:29:33 »

Yesterday evening I noticed a most unwelcome change on the footbridge.

The full length windows on the western side off the overbridge as far as Platform 12-13 had been obscured by "frosting" from the floor almost to the ceiling.

What a stupid thing to do! No longer can you look to see if your train has arrived or left as you walk across, and the great panoramic view out to the west has been lost.

Network Rail - remove this dumb feature immediately please!
Logged
a-driver
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 971


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: December 18, 2019, 19:57:32 »

It’s been reported elsewhere this has been done to prevent passengers witnessing a fatality or to provide shielding should one occur thus keeping part of the station open.
Logged
Oxonhutch
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1248



View Profile
« Reply #2 on: December 18, 2019, 19:57:58 »

I think the reason given is out of all proportion to the perceived risk.  Knee jerk reaction and box ticking to an imagined event.

Spent many a 25 minutes watching the trains in the past, waiting for a missed connection.
« Last Edit: December 18, 2019, 20:16:47 by Oxonhutch » Logged
a-driver
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 971


View Profile
« Reply #3 on: December 18, 2019, 20:10:08 »

I think the reason given is out of all proportion to the perceived risk.  Knee jerk reaction and box ticking to an imagined event.

Spent many a 25 minutes watching the trains in the past, waiting for a missed connection.

Agreed.  Cleaning the pigeon mess should be a higher priority. 
Logged
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12360


View Profile Email
« Reply #4 on: December 19, 2019, 12:27:26 »

What-ifery to the highest degree frankly. Has there ever been one in that area yet that could be overlooked?
Logged
JayMac
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 18920



View Profile
« Reply #5 on: December 19, 2019, 12:56:14 »

I guess the potential has increased now that Reading is seeing more nonstop services through the station.

I agree it's a bit of an over-reaction though.
Logged

"Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for the rest of the day. Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life."

- Sir Terry Pratchett.
4064ReadingAbbey
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 455


View Profile
« Reply #6 on: December 19, 2019, 16:40:00 »

If the reported justification really is true, then frosting along the platform edges would seem to be more imperative as well as to act as a safety barrier to catch anything airborne.

Has frosting been applied to any other overbridges where trains pass even more quickly? For example at Tilehurst or Slough or Twyford?
Logged
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12360


View Profile Email
« Reply #7 on: December 19, 2019, 16:45:03 »

THe frosting isn't to prevent jumping, it's to stop people gawping....
Logged
Marlburian
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 692


View Profile
« Reply #8 on: December 19, 2019, 16:56:07 »

and, should an incident occur, filming what's going on and posting it on social media.

I share the general feeling that the frosting is unnecessary. Now and then I enjoyed watching a fine sunset through the windows.

Marlburian
Logged
NickB
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 712


View Profile
« Reply #9 on: December 19, 2019, 18:26:21 »

Hahahaha - what an utterly pointless thing to do.  I would love to see the committee minutes that came up with this idea.
Logged
Gordon the Blue Engine
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 752


View Profile
« Reply #10 on: December 20, 2019, 10:08:33 »

The clear windows gave a feeling of space and airiness to the footbridge, as well as providing something to look at while waiting for connections etc.  This is a benefit which should not be lightly given up unless there is a greater benefit of having the windows frosted.  Like NIckB, I’d like to see the reasoning and decision process which came to this conclusion.

I’m sure the architect would be mortified by this assault on his/her design. 

What next, frosted windows on trains?  No doubt someone could say that the flashing lights as you whizz thorough stations at night might trigger a seizure.
Logged
ChrisB
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 12360


View Profile Email
« Reply #11 on: December 20, 2019, 10:13:05 »

What next, frosted windows on trains? 

Or to be able to gawp at the same thing they're worried about at Reading!
Logged
Surrey 455
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 1230


View Profile
« Reply #12 on: December 20, 2019, 22:37:28 »

I’m sure the architect would be mortified by this assault on his/her design. 

I wouldn't feel too sorry for them. Am I correct in remembering comments by others that the footbridge design allowed in rain and wind? Was that ever rectified?
Logged
4064ReadingAbbey
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 455


View Profile
« Reply #13 on: December 21, 2019, 19:23:30 »

THe frosting isn't to prevent jumping, it's to stop people gawping....
I realise that. My point was that people already on the platform are all potential 'gawpers' and they are also closer to events.

What is being done to prevent them gawping? My suggestion was frosted glass along the edges of the platforms.
Logged
4064ReadingAbbey
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 455


View Profile
« Reply #14 on: December 21, 2019, 19:35:23 »

I’m sure the architect would be mortified by this assault on his/her design. 

I wouldn't feel too sorry for them. Am I correct in remembering comments by others that the footbridge design allowed in rain and wind? Was that ever rectified?
No it wasn't - and won't be unless somebody has several millions to spare.

If the space is enclosed it comes under a whole new set of fire and escape regulations - and to meet these requires £££. At the moment it is treated as some form of open space (I don't know the exact regulations) and therefore does not need the extra escape passages and so on which would otherwise be necessary.
Logged
Do you have something you would like to add to this thread, or would you like to raise a new question at the Coffee Shop? Please [register] (it is free) if you have not done so before, or login (at the top of this page) if you already have an account - we would love to read what you have to say!

You can find out more about how this forum works [here] - that will link you to a copy of the forum agreement that you can read before you join, and tell you very much more about how we operate. We are an independent forum, provided and run by customers of Great Western Railway, for customers of Great Western Railway and we welcome railway professionals as members too, in either a personal or official capacity. Views expressed in posts are not necessarily the views of the operators of the forum.

As well as posting messages onto existing threads, and starting new subjects, members can communicate with each other through personal messages if they wish. And once members have made a certain number of posts, they will automatically be admitted to the "frequent posters club", where subjects not-for-public-domain are discussed; anything from the occasional rant to meetups we may be having ...

 
Pages: [1] 2
  Print  
 
Jump to:  

Powered by MySQL Powered by PHP Powered by SMF 1.1.2 | SMF © 2006-2007, Simple Machines LLC Valid XHTML 1.0! Valid CSS!
This forum is provided by customers of Great Western Railway (formerly First Great Western), and the views expressed are those of the individual posters concerned. Visit www.gwr.com for the official Great Western Railway website. Please contact the administrators of this site if you feel that the content provided by one of our posters contravenes our posting rules (email link to report). Forum hosted by Well House Consultants

Jump to top of pageJump to Forum Home Page