Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

The steel core for the first of the supporting pylons on platform 8/9 is up
To the north, the main girders for the new deck are rapidly going in.

At one of the Network Rail briefings they mentioned that the transfer deck will be built in sections and then slid across the operational part of the station, ie what you see being assembled at the moment is not in its final position.  I'm fairly sure that the rusty looking steel girder sections visible on the sides of the support columns at various angles are 'temporary works' associated with the bridge slide.  I'd expect them to add weight at the north end of the deck and then extend it out over the tracks during a weekend closure of the lines some time over the summer. 

I expect once the P8/P9 in situ castings are completed to match those on the other three islands, progress will be quite rapid - of course there is substantial work to be done to support the P7 end of the transfer deck, not much seems to get mentioned about progress behind the P7 hoardings...

Paul

[paul7575]

Waterloo<>Reading service ramped up to every 15-minutes all day as this will be the only Reading to Paddington train service.

Reading to London perhaps?

I wonder if this could see SWT^▸ (South West Trains) running a few 12 car trains to make better use of the new platforms?  Using 450s (as they'd be in addition to the normal 458 operated service) would mean that Reading - Waterloo passengers could fill the rear unit on departure from Reading?

Also, as they'd be running additional to the normal timetable, there'd be little need for any intermediate stops anyway.  Lack of overtaking opportunities would prevent a decent speed, but they could shift a lot of through passengers (ie end to end) that way.

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Waterloo<>Reading service ramped up to every 15-minutes all day as this will be the only Reading to Paddington train service.

Reading to London perhaps?

Indeed. 

[The SprinterMeister]

I expect once the P8/P9 in situ castings are completed to match those on the other three islands, progress will be quite rapid - of course there is substantial work to be done to support the P7 end of the transfer deck, not much seems to get mentioned about progress behind the P7 hoardings...Paul

Which is where the new booking office and entrance will be when its all completed. As I remember the grand plan, only the 'Three Guineas' / clock tower will be the only visible link with the past.

At some point the up through line finishes and P7 moves across so that its face is up against where the through line currently is, not sure when that takes place.

[BerkshireBugsy]

A pilotman is the authority for a train movement to take place over a line which is usually operated only in one direction but is being used as a bi-directional line, but lacks the normal bi-directional signalling necessary for such movements. I presume at Reading only one track is available from Southcote Junction, on to the Basingstoke line to Reading.

Ive just found this (late, I know) and it reminded me of an incident last year (I think!) where the 1736 Reading to Bradford OA (and then Temple Meads) suffered a failure in one of the emergency control systems (I think ATP^▸ (Automatic Train Protection) kept applying the breaks incorrectly) at Reading West - literally next to the station.

From memory the TM^‡(resolve) told us that she was in dialogue with Swindon trying to get approval to reverse run back to the station. I don't think this ever happened. From memory what did happen was an engineer from Reading West depot was ferried by Taxi to Reading West station where he was able to fix the issue and allow slow running west bound

SOrry Mods - just realised this may not be relevant to this thread so feel happy to delete it if you think appropriate.

[paul7575]

Which is where the new booking office and entrance will be when its all completed. As I remember the grand plan, only the 'Three Guineas' / clock tower will be the only visible link with the past.

I'm aware of what is happening, I just meant that there hasn't mean much discussion about what if any progress has been made so far behind the hoardings in that area, since the demolition was done.  A few of us seem to have been concentrating on the details of the Southern platforms, and the work in the vicinity of the Northern entance is also much discussed and photographed...

Paul

[mjones]

I have a peek through the windows in the p7 hoarding from time to time, but all I can see at the moment is a very deep hole in the ground, which I think includes the remnants of the subway; and the new crane that has been installed there.

[Btline]

Are the Bristol trains running via Banbury?

Shame Evergreen 3 isn't open!

[Southern Stag]

Same as at Christmas 2010, booked to operate via Banbury and reverse there but when they are running late reversing at Aynho Junction will be possible.

[Devon Big Bird]

Is it just a figment of my mind but weren't there the occasional through trains from Oxford to Gatwick about 10 years ago?

And of course the old (Table 50 for those who remember them) Inter-Regionals, through OXF^» (Oxford - next trains) to Brighton, Newhaven etc!

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

I remember catching a timetabled service (Saturdays only) from Reaing to Dover West Docks (I think, may have been Folkestone Harbour).  Third rail all the way - went via Staines, Latchmere no 3 Junction, Longhedge Junction, Wandsworth Road etc.  Obviously before the tunnel opened.

[ellendune]

A link to some more photos has appeared on:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=91008804&postcount=145

[SandTEngineer]

Crikey In my 42 years in the S&T^▸ (Signalling and Telegraph) industry I must say that this is one of the most over the top signal gantries I have ever seen http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_iliff/7130297711/in/set-72157629572744340/

[paul7575]

Crikey In my 42 years in the S&T^▸ (Signalling and Telegraph) industry I must say that this is one of the most over the top signal gantries I have ever seen http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_iliff/7130297711/in/set-72157629572744340/

There's quite a few built on a masssive scale like that on the WCML^▸ (West Coast Main Line), but I can't think of any offhand that span such a width of platforms and tracks.  I wonder if the one at Reading east end will actually extend further north towards the car park once the ground level is raised to its final height?

At some WCML locations the signal heads appear to be mounted within individual 'cages' that presumably allow safe access for maintenance purposes without taking the OHL^▸ (Over-Head Line) power off?

[anthony215]

I am due to have a job interview with FGW^▸ (First Great Western) at Newbury this Friday traveling there from south wales changing trains at Reading so I will be very interested in seing what the station looks like when I am there in person rather than just looking at pics on the internet.


This may be slightly off topic but I have a question for the regular users of Reading but how easy is it chnaging trains particulary changing from the high speed services to the local services to Newbury?

I'm asking as I have not used Reading for at least 2 years now and I have 12 minutes to change trains there on Friday morning (maybe less if there are delays on my hst which is due to arrive into Reading at 07:00)