Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

Two more switch ends have been installed between the one in my photo above and the station.  Bagged over new/realigned signal heads are now installed in a few places too.

[paul7575]

It's all quite encouraging isn't it - and they ought to be able to progress the first new platform pretty quickly as well, as they are in green zone conditions.

Paul

[anthony215]

I have to say the work at Reading is progressing very well, i look forward to wandering around the station when work is complete.

[mjones]

I'm curious about what is planned for the station end of the new platform, where space is constrained by the adjacent delivery ramp for the station and there are a couple of concrete structures in the ground next to the existing platform 4b track. Someone I was recently idly chatting to while watching the construction work  said that the trains would stop further back than the existing buffers, and that the ends of the curent bays would be filled in to provide more passenger circulation space. I can see that this would also help provide access to the new platform given the space constraints there.

[paul7575]

I think the circulation space will nearly all be gained from the removal of the lift, escalators and stairs to the current footbridge - all of which will be gone. 

The trains will probably have to stop further back anyway because current standards for bays/buffers will have to apply to the new work, but there'll then be a larger gap between the buffers and the 'cross platform' (the section joining the platforms together).

Paul

[ellendune]

Note that the final London and South East RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browseDirectory.aspx?dir=\RUS%20Documents\Route%20Utilisation%20Strategies\RUS%20Generation%202\London%20and%20South%20East recomends an early decision to extend Crossrail to Reading to save ^31M is savings at Maidenhead and to provide additional capacity to releave overcrowding on Paddington to Reading.  Decision required in the next few months. 

This is part of a big section on resolving capacity issues on GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line).

[bobm]

Piece on the remodelling of platforms 4A and 4B in the Reading Post complete with Video.

[eightf48544]

...recomends an early decision to extend Crossrail to Reading to save ^31M is savings at Maidenhead and to provide additional capacity to relieve overcrowding on Paddington to Reading.  Decision required in the next few months. 

Hopefully common sense will prevail and Crossrail extended to Reading and the turnback sidings at Maidenhead dropped.

Although how Maidonians will take not having their own exclusive terminal for Crossrail will be interesting to see. The insulters of Brunel were already up in  arms about wires across the bridge, despite the fact that if Brunel had had 25KV overhead electrification we would have had 200 mph plus broad gauge trains across the bridge for 175 years. No doubt the catenery supports would have been quite decorative with scroll work etc.

[bobm]

Next phase starts next week with the closure of the subway - FGW^▸ (First Great Western) Website.

30 August marks the start of a period of major construction and improvements to Reading Station that will result in a modernised station with increased capacity to meet growing customer demand.

This major remodelling at one of First Great Western^s busiest stations is one of the most significant railway upgrade schemes currently being undertaken anywhere in the country.

From the early hours of Tuesday 30 August, Network Rail^s contractor will start construction work at Reading Station and the subway will be permanently closed to all staff and passengers. Alternative access to and from all platforms will be via the over bridge.

[paul7575]

That'll extend the mad dash between P8 and P3, that typically occurs when XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are re-platformed at very short notice...

Paul

[ellendune]

I went through Reading today. 

Alot of activity putting drainage in by the festival site just west of cow lane (new train maintenance facility) and widening the embankment there.

Vastern Road Bridge widening looks nearly complete on both sides.  The approach to the new Waterloo platforms also looks nearly complete. 

 

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

That'll extend the mad dash between P8 and P3, that typically occurs when XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are re-platformed at very short notice...

Indeed it will.  But FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have done a good job at advertisng the subway closure, with lots of posters and staff handing out leaflets.  Yesterday evening I was accosted by a very nice CS Team member on P9 who handed me a leaflet (the second on my trip from P4 via the subway) and explained that I would need to allow more time to get off P9 for connections etc.  In response to my moan about the narrow staircase off P9 to the footbridge, he pointed out that an additional temporay staircase has been built up to the footbridge to increase capacity and separate up and down passenger movements.

So well done FGW and NR^» (Network Rail - home page).


PS I can never get the Quotes to work - please would some nice moderator fix it for me.


Moderator note: Done!  bignosemac

[paul7575]

I also just noticed that the planned Saturday evening and Sunday closure between Wokingham and Reading P4a/b has been cancelled for the next two weekends, might that suggest they have made better progress than planned originally?

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Work in earnest on the new southern platform and track bed is now beginning.  The large concrete slab at the station end is getting broken up and removed with Vortok blue protective fencing panels in place.

[IndustryInsider]

Here's the latest staff newsletter regarding the Reading rebuild.  I've got permission to use this and future editions on the forum (with minor editing), so will post them as and when I can.  Hopefully you'll find the information useful.