Improvements at three Berkshire stations

[whole diary]

[Hal]

Disabled access to both Theale and Tilehurst stations is to be greatly enhanced as part of a GBP 18 million investment, reported by the Berkshire Live website a few days ago.

At Theale, there will be a new footbridge with lifts, a new ticket office, toilets and enlarged car park.

At Tilehurst, lifts are finally going to be added to the footbridge which was installed as part of the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line) electrification.

Reading West station will also see some improvements - ?improved accessibility? but no lifts, according to the report.

[stuving]

What's proposed for Reading West is a bit more than just accessibility, and there is a planning application for it just gone in (no. 201448). The biggest item is a new station building, granting the passengers of West Reading the luxury of a gateline (or two, with one at the back door as well). It's a little station building under the bridge, taking up the full width of the pavement, which as a result needs a bit add-on pavement to get round it. They've even found space for a kiosk and a toilet. The drawings also show locations for lifts to be provided "by others" - could that be Access for All?

[stuving]

And here's Reading Council on Twitter with some pretty pictures of the new Reading West station. As you can see, the tweeting multitudes don't find it at all pretty. Now, is this:

just a controlled pedestrian crossing, or is it contraflow? (Or is it just an unimpressive artist's impression?)

[CyclingSid]

Another classic RBC^‡(resolve) design without thinking cyclist. Reading West bridge lights are not good at the best of times and adding a pinch point will only make it worse. Suppose I should be thankful they didn't add a traffic island as well.

[Marlburian]

More here

Apart from the inverted photograph, my first reaction was the narrowing of the pavement and potential problems with cyclists who use it as an "informal" route. For some years I've avoided walking either side of Oxford Road from Reading West to Norcot Roundabout because of some unpleasant encounters, including being ridden at.

I note this as a former very keen cyclist who thirty years ago did not enjoy riding along Oxford Road. Come to think of it, nowadays I take great care driving along it. A year or two ago, there was talk of "improving" the road and recently some bright spark suggested banning vehicles from it. To be fair, I can't see that a great deal can be done improve things.

[Electric train]

The graphic rendition only gives an impression of the final build.   Things worth noting about Readings Oxford Road is I believe a 20 MPH zone and has man speed bumps.

[nickswift99]

Unless the "station" is staffed, then it's likely to become a home for those eating food from McDonalds or "ladies" awaiting customers who normally frequent Western Elms Avenue (if you're local you'll know what I'm talking about).

I don't think passenger footfall at Reading West, as opposed to ticket sales, will be positively impacted by such as building.

[CyclingSid]

Will it be ready for the opening of Green Park station?

[eightonedee]

There has clearly been further thoughts on the external appearance (at least) of the proposed building at Reading West - see-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-55159874

I like the way the photomontage for the view from the east (town centre) side includes pigeons huddled up on the bridge girder above Oxford Road.

[stuving]

There has clearly been further thoughts on the external appearance (at least) of the proposed building at Reading West - see-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-55159874

I like the way the photomontage for the view from the east (town centre) side includes pigeons huddled up on the bridge girder above Oxford Road.

I didn't realise you could get that stick-on brickwork paper the modellers use in a full-scale version.

[bobm]

Unless the "station" is staffed, then it's likely to become a home for those eating food from McDonalds or "ladies" awaiting customers who normally frequent Western Elms Avenue (if you're local you'll know what I'm talking about).

I don't think passenger footfall at Reading West, as opposed to ticket sales, will be positively impacted by such as building.

Remembering the hill walking up Western Elms Avenue when I was a child going to school, these days I?d be fit for nothing after walking up there now!

[stuving]

There has clearly been further thoughts on the external appearance (at least) of the proposed building at Reading West - see-

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-berkshire-55159874

I like the way the photomontage for the view from the east (town centre) side includes pigeons huddled up on the bridge girder above Oxford Road.

I didn't realise you could get that stick-on brickwork paper the modellers use in a full-scale version.

I might, for once, explain that - the plan drawing submitted with the new pictures (1/12/20) is identical, apart from the kerb line, with the old one (8/10/20). I know that's not what the pictures look like, but presumably the architects' drawings are closer to what the builders build than what any impressionable artist thinks.

[Hal]

Looks nicer, but still no lifts.

[TonyN]

They have used Better Builder instead of Lego.

[CyclingSid]

I didn't realise you could get that stick-on brickwork paper the modellers use in a full-scale version.

Cladding, hopefully not flammable.