Train GraphicClick on the map to explore geographics
 
I need help
FAQ
Emergency
About .
Travel & transport from BBC stories as at 10:15 29 Mar 2024
* Bus plunges off South Africa bridge, killing 45
* Easter getaway begins with flood alerts in place
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

On this day
29th Mar (1913)
Foundation of National Union or Railwaymen (*)

Train RunningCancelled
09:00 Gatwick Airport to Reading
09:46 Westbury to Swindon
09:54 Bedwyn to Newbury
10:22 Newbury to Bedwyn
10:55 Bedwyn to Newbury
11:05 Swindon to Westbury
11:29 Newbury to Bedwyn
11:57 Bedwyn to Newbury
12:17 Westbury to Swindon
12:52 Bedwyn to Newbury
13:15 Swindon to Westbury
14:19 Westbury to Swindon
15:14 Swindon to Westbury
16:23 Westbury to Swindon
17:36 Swindon to Westbury
18:37 Westbury to Swindon
20:13 Swindon to Westbury
21:16 Westbury to Swindon
22:30 Swindon to Westbury
Short Run
06:37 Plymouth to London Paddington
07:03 London Paddington to Paignton
08:35 Plymouth to London Paddington
09:30 Weymouth to Gloucester
09:37 London Paddington to Paignton
10:35 London Paddington to Exeter St Davids
Delayed
05:03 Penzance to London Paddington
06:05 Penzance to London Paddington
07:10 Penzance to London Paddington
08:03 London Paddington to Penzance
08:15 Penzance to London Paddington
09:04 London Paddington to Plymouth
09:45 Bristol Temple Meads to Salisbury
10:04 London Paddington to Penzance
11:03 London Paddington to Plymouth
PollsOpen and recent polls
Closed 2024-03-25 Easter Escape - to where?
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
March 29, 2024, 10:15:34 *
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
[149] Infrastructure problems in Thames Valley causing disruption el...
[64] would you like your own LIVE train station departure board?
[59] West Wiltshire Bus Changes April 2024
[58] Reversing Beeching - bring heritage and freight lines into the...
[52] Return of the BRUTE?
[36] 2024 - Service update and amendment log, Swindon <-> Westbury...
 
News: A forum for passengers ... with input from rail professionals welcomed too
 
   Home   Help Search Calendar Login Register  
Pages: [1]
  Print  
Author Topic: Concern over "crumbling" footbridge at Earley.  (Read 4641 times)
Marlburian
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 689


View Profile
« on: February 09, 2021, 12:01:24 »

On the Reading Chronicle news website. It does look  a bit fragile.
Logged
IndustryInsider
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 10096


View Profile
« Reply #1 on: February 09, 2021, 12:04:26 »

Slow news day in Earley?   Wink
Logged

To view my GWML (Great Western Main Line) Electrification cab video 'before and after' video comparison, as well as other videos of the new layout at Reading and 'before and after' comparisons of the Cotswold Line Redoubling scheme, see: http://www.dailymotion.com/user/IndustryInsider/
Lee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7519


GBR - The Emperor's New Rail Network


View Profile WWW
« Reply #2 on: February 09, 2021, 13:22:10 »

Slow news day in Earley?   Wink

Are you kidding? Things haven't been this Exciting in Earley since the Ultrasonic Drain Sensor trial...
Logged

Vous devez ĂȘtre impitoyable, parce que ces gens sont des salauds - https://looka.com/s/78722877
stuving
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 7156


View Profile
« Reply #3 on: February 09, 2021, 14:43:53 »

I should perhaps add that this is not the station footbridge. That's a modest metal structure on the platforms. This one is a long-distance (well over 100 m) link to Woodley, crossing the railway and the A329(M)/A3290. Before that "motorway" was built (ca. 1970), there was (briefly) a level crossing, reduced from then to a barrow crossing. 

So it's only 50 years old - why is it crumbling away? It looks like some fence posts of a similar age I took out a few years ago, so I guess those supports were made to a similar standard (and by the same kind of makers). After all, it was "only" a footbridge!

The railway angle - it's WBC's bridge - is that they intend (obviously) the replacement to be step-free, and thought NR» (Network Rail - home page) would want to collaborate so it could serve the station platforms too. But (according to that report) they met with a brusque refusal. I think I read something similar only a few days ago: that NR would not join forces with another council to upgrade platform access. Perhaps that's for the best - NR has cumbersome, expensive, way of doing things even when they are collaborating only with themselves.
Logged
broadgage
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 5398



View Profile
« Reply #4 on: February 09, 2021, 15:28:46 »

My concerns about this or any other footbidge in apparently doubtful condition would not be failure under normal conditions, but the potential for collapse under exceptional loading.

Thinking for example of a popular steamer passing and huge numbers crowding the bridge to get a good view. Despite my stoutness I would be happy to use this footbridge along with a handful of others passing from one side to the other.
I would be reluctant to join any large crowd on the bridge, nor to stand under it when crowded.
I might also think twice about crossing the bridge (or standing under it) in gale force winds.
Logged

A proper intercity train has a minimum of 8 coaches, gangwayed throughout, with first at one end, and a full sized buffet car between first and standard.
It has space for cycles, surfboards,luggage etc.
A 5 car DMU (Diesel Multiple Unit) is not a proper inter-city train. The 5+5 and 9 car DMUs are almost as bad.
grahame
Administrator
Hero Member
*****
Posts: 40691



View Profile WWW Email
« Reply #5 on: February 09, 2021, 15:53:34 »

I would be reluctant to join any large crowd on the bridge, nor to stand under it when crowded.

Reminds me of certain bridges with signs telling you to break rank when crossing ... from June 2018



I wouldn't want to stand under the Early bridge at any time - too much risk of a train coming along!
Logged

Coffee Shop Admin, Acting Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, Option 24/7 Melksham Rep
eightonedee
Transport Scholar
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1532



View Profile
« Reply #6 on: February 09, 2021, 22:40:18 »

What a weird coincidence - two posts on the same day that indirectly relate to Accor Group hotels where I can give noise related advice! (see also -http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=24647.msg301782#msg301782) 

The building in the background on the far side of the River Ness in Grahame's photo of the Inverness footbridge is the Mercure hotel. Here the advice is to book a room on the river side, not one facing the other side towards the station, as rowdy town centre revellers can give you a disturbed night sleep.

I think this now exhausts this particular obscure backwater of my consciousness.......
Logged
CyclingSid
Data Manager
Hero Member
******
Posts: 1918


Hockley viaduct


View Profile
« Reply #7 on: February 10, 2021, 07:00:11 »

Quote
Ultrasonic Drain Sensor trial...
Good job they didn't install them in Reading, they would be going off all the time. Not that RBC(resolve) would probably take any notice.
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]
  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