New Reading Station Southern Entrance plans

[whole diary]

[Boppy]

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere yet but here is the New Reading Station Southern Entrance Planning Application Design & Access statement from 15th June 2009.

Some nice pictures - I like the way the Western Tower in the plans has the graffiti at the top on them! 

http://documents.reading.gov.uk/AnitePublicDocs/00164201.pdf

And the official planning application to go with it.

http://planning.reading.gov.uk/publicaccess/tdc/DcApplication/application_detailview.aspx?caseno=KLACKAMS5R000

I wonder where all the buses and taxis will go!?

Boppy.

[IanC]

http://documents.reading.gov.uk/AnitePublicDocs/00164201.pdf

link (currently) doesn't work.

[willc]

does, but it's a chunky pdf, so takes a moment or two to load

[paul7575]

Very interesting document, well spotted. Also clarifies why we have seen these conflicting news reports that the Network Rail station alterations are fully funded, followed shortly after by other stories that they aren't. Of course Reading Borough Council are only talking concourses...

What it leaves hanging in the air (unless I missed it in the detail somewhere) is the possibility of retaining part of the existing concourse as a direct entrance to the Waterloo platforms, thus removing flows of pax along the new platform 7 (existing P4). Might I have read that somewhere else recently though... 

Also interesting is that the simple solution of using the subway only for N/S access but outside the paid area completely removes the issue of ticketless passengers vaulting over the partition or using the lift.

Paul

[Boppy]

Try this link instead if anyone is having probs - advice form someone at RBC^‡(resolve) about their links not working correctly!

http://documents.reading.gov.uk/AniteIM.WebSearch/Download.aspx?Download=00164201.pdf

Should then work hopefully for those of you who currently can't reach it - and it is quite meaty at 38MB or so...

Boppy.

[Lee]

The council plans will be going on display in an exhibition being held at Station Hill from 20 July until 21 August - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/berkshire/8154536.stm

[paul7575]

I don't think I've seen it here but apparently planning permission has just been granted for the station exterior works, and the SofS (Adonis) has also just signed off the TWA Order for the land acquisition for the station area and approaches remodelling.

Paul

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

More railway station plans shown

More exhibitions on a multimillion-pound plan to transform Reading railway station are to go on display.

The borough council proposals include upgrading the southern entrance and outside travel interchange concourse, including bus, taxi and drop-off areas.

Network Rail's ^500m revamp includes five new platforms and a train depot.

The plans are on view on 21 and 28 October at Reading station forecourt and Broad Street respectively and on 3 November at the civic centre.

It is hoped the project will allow more trains to run through Reading, reduce delays on the western route and ease overcrowding at the station.

The local authority's proposals will show how roads around the station will be reconfigured to allow for a pedestrianised area.

Bus, taxi and cycle facilities, along with vehicle drop-off points, will also be reorganised.

The last exhibition was based at Station Hill from 20 July until 21 August.

Tony Page, lead councillor for transport, said: "I would urge the public to attend the exhibitions and find out more about the proposals to improve Reading's central area."

[Boppy]

I'll be interested in taking a look.

From what I've read in the local newspapers one of the biggest issues is where to move the current bus station.  There seem to be two ideas:

a)  Split the bus station into 2 or 3 smaller sections spread around the station - i.e. one north of the station and one to the south west and south east.  Bus journeys across Reading are going to get a lot harder if that happens!

b)  Move the bus station to where the current station concourse is.  Sounds more sensible imo.


Speaking about work on the redevelopment of Reading station.  I've looked at Network Rail's site but I was wondering is there a good source on the web for showing the timelines of what's happening when around the redevelopment of the station - e.g. the tunnel that goes under the tracks to the east of the station has/is recently been worked on to bring it up to working order.  What else is happening at the moment?

I'm just curious as I'd like to know what to look out for each day at the station.  New things to watch/see help the daily commute you know!   

[paul7575]

Speaking about work on the redevelopment of Reading station.  I've looked at Network Rail's site but I was wondering is there a good source on the web for showing the timelines of what's happening when around the redevelopment of the station - e.g. the tunnel that goes under the tracks to the east of the station has/is recently been worked on to bring it up to working order.  What else is happening at the moment?

I'm just curious as I'd like to know what to look out for each day at the station.  New things to watch/see help the daily commute you know!   

The NR^» (Network Rail - home page) CP4^▸ (Control Period 4 - the five year period between 2009 and 2014) delivery plan milestones are here, if you haven't found them already:

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/5764_Enhancements%20Document%20June%202009.pdf

This was updated in June, pages 53 and 54 give some broad dates.  I'd be surprised if there was much happening until late next year really, the date for major work to be completed in the station is Dec 2012, but you are looking at 2016 for the final grade seperation west of the station.

Paul