Title: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 08, 2014, 09:13:22 I appreciate that this would be easier to answer if I had a picture but it's been pretty dark these last few mornings.
On platform 2 at Thatcham station some new markings on the platform have appeared. They consist of Red and Yellow lines which seemed to be centered on the shelter. I've knocked up a pretty crude (well not even pretty!) picture showing from memory what they look like. Just curious to know whats going on The drawing isn't to scale and the level crossing and footbridge would be on the left. For those unfamiliar with this station this is the Reading bound platform - Platform 1 is for trains to Newbury and the west. Dave Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: Thatcham Crossing on October 08, 2014, 12:58:52 Not been to the station this week, but will be tomorrow by the looks, so will have a look aswell.
Immediate thought is that maybe something on the platform needs to be moved/rebuilt due to upcoming overhead wiring infrastructure? As an aside, apart from the bridge-raising we have seen, there seems to be very little activity (to a layman such as myself anyway) on the B&H in connection with the wires going up. Bearing in mind that we are told this is going to be in place as far as Newbury by the end of 2016, should we be concerned? Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 08, 2014, 13:19:27 Not been to the station this week, but will be tomorrow by the looks, so will have a look aswell. Immediate thought is that maybe something on the platform needs to be moved/rebuilt due to upcoming overhead wiring infrastructure? As an aside, apart from the bridge-raising we have seen, there seems to be very little activity (to a layman such as myself anyway) on the B&H in connection with the wires going up. Bearing in mind that we are told this is going to be in place as far as Newbury by the end of 2016, should we be concerned? You may be right TC but from memory they appear to run through the shelter. I will wait to see what you think. Regarding general progress on "our" line I believe there has been some progress near Newbury station. Someone posted a picture in a "Newbury now and then" Facebook group which shows part of a support mast in place. I've certainly not noticed any progress like there has been between Reading and the start of OLE near Heathrow. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: paul7575 on October 08, 2014, 16:23:30 As an aside, apart from the bridge-raising we have seen, there seems to be very little activity (to a layman such as myself anyway) on the B&H in connection with the wires going up. Bearing in mind that we are told this is going to be in place as far as Newbury by the end of 2016, should we be concerned? No reason to be concerned, in my opinion. Up in the North West of the country they went from nothing done to an electrified route for TPE in about a year. Paul Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 10, 2014, 08:59:07 I managed to get a picture this morning...so live from Platform 2 here we are (this is obviously facing east)
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: ChrisB on October 10, 2014, 10:18:54 The yellow markings look like positioning markers for a new shelter perhaps?
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 10, 2014, 10:32:37 The yellow markings look like positioning markers for a new shelter perhaps? In a way I hope not - it looks narrower than the existing one. We shall see! Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: Thatcham Crossing on October 10, 2014, 16:44:58 I did have a look at these markings yesterday morning (whilst waiting for the delayed 0903 THA-PAD ::)) and I must admit I am none the wiser!
Like BB I don't think they mark out a new shelter - they mark out an area that is too long and narrow. Guess we'll just have to wait and see. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 13, 2014, 07:03:03 I have been led to believe that they are replacing the footbridge at Thatcham station starting this November due to clearance for electrification.
If this is the case I'm wondering if the new footbridge will have ramps rather than steps - because the footprint of the yellow lines is quite long compared with the existing bridge. It also seems to go over the existing shelter on P2 so it if this is what is happening it will be interesting to see see it unfold. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: ChrisB on October 13, 2014, 08:56:09 In which case, yes, a ramp or lifts is a requirement. The former is cheaper. Lifts have to be monitored....are staff present all day?
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 13, 2014, 09:00:05 In which case, yes, a ramp or lifts is a requirement. The former is cheaper. Lifts have to be monitored....are staff present all day? No - Thatcham is a relatively small station which is manned in the mornings weekdays and Saturday and not at all on Sundays. I can't see lifts being put in - obviously this would require one each platform and as you say there is a cost/monitoring impact attached to that Watch this space! Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: IndustryInsider on October 13, 2014, 09:55:46 In which case, yes, a ramp or lifts is a requirement. The former is cheaper. Lifts have to be monitored....are staff present all day? There's no requirement to provide a ramp/lifts when a footbridge is being replaced, only if it is a new facility. The extra space might well be because the new structure will be much higher than the existing one - the clearance needed at each side of the track might mean the current two stages of steps has to be made into one, therefore needing much more space. I'd have thought a footbridge with ramps is unlikely, unless the design of the station and location of the station buildings make it the only sensible solution, given there is level access to all areas of the station using the level crossing. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: ChrisB on October 13, 2014, 10:01:45 In which case, yes, a ramp or lifts is a requirement. The former is cheaper. Lifts have to be monitored....are staff present all day? There's no requirement to provide a ramp/lifts when a footbridge is being replaced, only if it is a new facility. I think you're wrong....any new build needs to reflect HSE regulations. If they simply renovated, I agree with you, but new build needs to reflect current regulations. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: IndustryInsider on October 13, 2014, 10:08:09 Tilehurst has recently been completely replaced and rebuilt in a new location on the station without any ramps.
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 13, 2014, 10:08:55 In which case, yes, a ramp or lifts is a requirement. The former is cheaper. Lifts have to be monitored....are staff present all day? There's no requirement to provide a ramp/lifts when a footbridge is being replaced, only if it is a new facility. I think you're wrong....any new build needs to reflect HSE regulations. If they simply renovated, I agree with you, but new build needs to reflect current regulations. Wasn't the footbridge at Aldermaston replaced in the last year or so. I know some of the road bridges in the area were. I don't remember that bridge having ramps but could be mistaken. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: Red Squirrel on October 13, 2014, 10:40:51 In which case, yes, a ramp or lifts is a requirement. The former is cheaper. Lifts have to be monitored....are staff present all day? There's no requirement to provide a ramp/lifts when a footbridge is being replaced, only if it is a new facility. I think you're wrong....any new build needs to reflect HSE regulations. If they simply renovated, I agree with you, but new build needs to reflect current regulations. Stapleton Road footbridge was rebuilt to accommodate the wires last year, without ramps or lifts. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: ChrisB on October 13, 2014, 10:47:35 totally, from the ground up? On railway property?
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: Network SouthEast on October 13, 2014, 10:59:27 I've never heard of a lift having to be monitored on site apart from ChrisB's posts here. There are many examples of lifts that are active without anyone on site - monitoring can be done remotely. FGW may decide they like to only keep lifts operational when stations are staffed, but that is their prerogative.
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: ChrisB on October 13, 2014, 11:02:56 Indeed, they can be actively monitored by CCTV - but escape/release of pax if the lift fails has to be achieved quickly.
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: IndustryInsider on October 13, 2014, 11:05:41 totally, from the ground up? On railway property? Tilehurst certainly was. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: ChrisB on October 13, 2014, 11:09:57 hmm, I'm only repeating what TOCs and Network Rail have both said to me in the past. Interesting.
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: Network SouthEast on October 13, 2014, 11:15:21 Indeed, they can be actively monitored by CCTV - but escape/release of pax if the lift fails has to be achieved quickly. FGW station staff are not trained lift engineers. The response time for failures is the same whether they are there or not.The telemetry of a lift can be monitored off-site, not just CCTV. It happens in numerous apartment blocks, car parks, bridges and even... railway stations elsewhere in the country. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: IndustryInsider on October 13, 2014, 11:27:40 Work will start in earnest at Goring & Streatley soon and it looks like that's going the same way - despite MP intervention: http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=38091 (http://www.henleystandard.co.uk/news/news.php?id=38091)
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: ChrisB on October 13, 2014, 11:35:28 It seems that Grandfather rights can be used to replace a footbridge, but new additional ones definitely need ramps or lifts.
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: IndustryInsider on October 13, 2014, 11:39:28 Yes, that's right. Similar restrictions apply at Reading where the new platforms 12/13/14/15 need escape stairwells at the ends of them, whereas the existing rebuilt platforms do not.
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: Red Squirrel on October 13, 2014, 11:40:27 totally, from the ground up? On railway property? Indeedy. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 13, 2014, 11:43:44 Yes, that's right. Similar restrictions apply at Reading where the new platforms 12/13/14/15 need escape stairwells at the ends of them, whereas the existing rebuilt platforms do not. I may be wrong but I thought P4/p5/p6 had escape stairwells - but I don't believe p1/2/3&7 do Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: Thatcham Crossing on October 13, 2014, 13:50:31 Just came across this http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/west-berkshire/ (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/west-berkshire/) which says it is a new footbridge and construction due to start in late October.
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 13, 2014, 13:55:39 Just came across this http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/west-berkshire/ (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/west-berkshire/) which says it is a new footbridge and construction due to start in late October. Thanks TC - I note the statement that says "some car parking spaces will be out of use whilst the work is in progress" (or something like that). That will be the "free" ones parallel to the platform then :) Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: paul7575 on October 13, 2014, 16:19:48 I may be wrong but I thought P4/p5/p6 had escape stairwells - but I don't believe p1/2/3&7 do P6 was a brand new platform so definitely needed an escape route. P4 and P5 effectively changed from 8 car to 12 car, that probably justified an escape route anyway, it was shown in the original planning application, but during the project a decision was taken to rebuild most of the existing platforms anyway. P1-3, 7 and 8/9 are considered to be resurfacing on the existing footprint, but there's very little of P10/11 that's original. Paul Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: IndustryInsider on October 14, 2014, 10:41:10 Just came across this http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/west-berkshire/ (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation/west-berkshire/) which says it is a new footbridge and construction due to start in late October. Thanks for that link. In the Oxfordshire section it says that Goring is going to be replaced with a structure including lifts, which will no doubt please the local community. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: ChrisB on October 14, 2014, 11:19:58 So the Henley Standard & the local MP haven't seen/read that? Or have NR changed their mind since that was published?
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: IndustryInsider on October 14, 2014, 11:39:58 Well, as you say, it was quite an old article which was published last year, so perhaps funding has indeed since become available? However it doesn't appear in the Access For All list http://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/access-for-all/stations (http://www.networkrail.co.uk/improvements/access-for-all/stations), which is the obvious funding stream I'd have thought? Or the Network Rail website is incorrect - just as likely! ;)
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: lordgoata on October 14, 2014, 11:55:39 Thanks for that link. In the Oxfordshire section it says that Goring is going to be replaced with a structure including lifts, which will no doubt please the local community. Yeah that was announce earlier in the year after the local mobility action group and the local MP managed to lobby NR successfully. Given Goring isn't staffed past lunch time or at all on Sundays, it will be interesting to see if the lifts only operate during staffed hours, or are remotely monitored as per earlier discussions. I still don't know why the bridge wasn't replaced when they did the "refurbishment" work a year or two ago - they put a huge temporary scaffold bridge up and just replaced a few parts of the knackered bridge! Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: IndustryInsider on October 14, 2014, 12:17:54 Yeah that was announce earlier in the year after the local mobility action group and the local MP managed to lobby NR successfully. Given Goring isn't staffed past lunch time or at all on Sundays, it will be interesting to see if the lifts only operate during staffed hours, or are remotely monitored as per earlier discussions. I still don't know why the bridge wasn't replaced when they did the "refurbishment" work a year or two ago - they put a huge temporary scaffold bridge up and just replaced a few parts of the knackered bridge! Thanks for that. You'd have thought it would have to be remotely monitored to be of any real use given the hours of staffing. Twyford station doesn't have monitoring and the lifts get taken out of use on weekends late afternoon and that has caused complaints, but at least they're available on weekdays until fairly late. Are there any remotely monitored lifts on FGW stations currently? I'm guessing the previous refurbishment work was of quite an urgent nature before planning had been finalised for the new bridge. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 14, 2014, 12:23:26 Yeah that was announce earlier in the year after the local mobility action group and the local MP managed to lobby NR successfully. Given Goring isn't staffed past lunch time or at all on Sundays, it will be interesting to see if the lifts only operate during staffed hours, or are remotely monitored as per earlier discussions. I still don't know why the bridge wasn't replaced when they did the "refurbishment" work a year or two ago - they put a huge temporary scaffold bridge up and just replaced a few parts of the knackered bridge! Thanks for that. You'd have thought it would have to be remotely monitored to be of any real use given the hours of staffing. Twyford station doesn't have monitoring and the lifts get taken out of use on weekends late afternoon and that has caused complaints, but at least they're available on weekdays until fairly late. Are there any remotely monitored lifts on FGW stations currently? I'm guessing the previous refurbishment work was of quite an urgent nature before planning had been finalised for the new bridge. Are the lifts taken out of service for safety reasons or to stop them being abused as a toilet? Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: ChrisB on October 14, 2014, 17:06:34 What do you think? Fancy being in one when it fails and no one knows you're there? :-)
Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: Oxman on October 14, 2014, 17:41:50 All lifts are fitted with alarm buttons. These activate a phone call, usually first of all to a local number, and if there is no answer within a set period, then to a number at FGW Control. A separate telephone line is provided for each lift, and the lift must be taken out of service if the line fails (or, as happened to me, is cut off because some accountant could not identify what the line was for so had it disconnected!). The numbers called must not have answerphones on them, so there can be no chance of the trapped person being asked to leave a message. In practice, the first number dialled will be to a staff office on the station - the station control room if there is one - so that a member of staff can attend the lift and, at least, offer reassurance. Some senior members of staff are able to open the doors to release anyone who is trapped. I certainly did this on a number of occasions. On others, I called the fire brigade, who are well versed in lift rescues. After the rescue, the lift would be put out of use until inspected by a lift engineer.
FGW has the front line responsibility for monitoring lifts. Maintenance of them is down to NR. If FGW find a lift fault, it is reported to Network Rail. It in turn has a contract with the manufacturers for maintenance. Manufacturers have 24 hour engineering cover and the contract with NR used to specify a 2 hour response - don't know what it is now. So anyone trapped in a lift at an unstaffed station should find themselves talking to FGW Control, who will report the problem to NR, who will immediately call out a lift engineer, who should attend within two hours. There is also the fallback of asking the on call station manager to attend, but I can imagine this not going down too well with some managers. One other thought: New lifts all have the capability of having CCTV installed within the car. If lifts are to be left operational whilst the station is unstaffed, I would have thought that CCTV would be fitted and connected through to FGW Control. Not only would this be useful in deterring abuse of the lift, but it would also help with an entrapment, in that the Control staff could see what was going on in the lift and call for the emergency services if needed. I have also heard that lifts are to be installed at Goring and, noting the limited staffing hours there, can only assume that they are to be remotely monitored, although how this will be achieved in reality, I do not know (yet). Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: BerkshireBugsy on October 14, 2014, 19:20:29 Many thanks Oxman for that reply.
I can imagine that if you suffered from a fear of enclosed spaces (can't spell the proper word at the moment!) 2 hours could seem like an eternity :) Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: stuving on October 14, 2014, 19:31:12 Many thanks Oxman for that reply. I can imagine that if you suffered from a fear of enclosed spaces (can't spell the proper word at the moment!) 2 hours could seem like an eternity :) But the world is full of lifts with no full-time staffing - just think of all those blocks of flats, small hotels, car parks, etc., etc. People do get stuck in them, too. But I don't hear a call for such lifts to be closed down out of hours - or if there's never any employed minder to be permanently closed. I do hear calls for better maintenance and monitoring, though. Title: Re: Thatcham station - some work imminent (red/yellow lines on platform) Post by: stuving on October 15, 2014, 01:06:40 In case you've not seen it, there was a report written by Atkins for Network rail, covering all the planning implications of electrification (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?action=post;topic=14706.30;num_replies=39). Presumably they submitted it to West Berkshire Council, though it does say:
Quote This document and its contents have been prepared and are intended solely for Network Rail‟s information and use in relation to the Great Western Main Line Overhead Electrification. I guess that just means WBC can't sue them, only NR can.Atkins Limited assumes no responsibility to any other party in respect of or arising out of or in connection with this document and/or its contents. Anyway, it includes the footbridge at Thatcham station on P9 - Quote Thatcham Station Footbridge (No. BHL 4946) The footbridge provides access to the two platforms of Thatcham station across the BHL. The footbridge would be demolished and reconstructed to increase the clearance necessary for installing the OLE. The works would be at some point in 2013 or 2014 and would take 8 to 10 weeks. The worksite would be located at the eastern end of the station car park to the south of the BHL. There's nothing more about the new bridge itself. The West Berkshire Council website has these items in its planning data: Screening request - Parapet works Ref. No: 12/00287/SCREEN | Status: Application not required Screening request - Parapet works Ref. No: 14/01494/SCREEN | Status: Application not required Erection of new footbridge Ref. No: 87/28166/ADD | Status: Approved The last of these is now removed or restricted. The other two relate to a block request for environmental impact assessments on parapet works for seven footbridges. These (and other overbridges) need their parapets raised to 1.8 m to comply with EU requirements for safety. Actually it was an environmental impact assessment assessment, which assessed that an environmental impact assessment was not needed. This page is printed from the "Coffee Shop" forum at http://gwr.passenger.chat which is provided by a customer of Great Western Railway. 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 content provided contravenes our posting rules ( see http://railcustomer.info/1761 ). The forum is hosted by Well House Consultants - http://www.wellho.net |