Extending Crossrail to Reading - ongoing discussion, merged topic

[whole diary]

[gpn01]

Why are people thinking that some HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) will stop at Maidenhead and Slough? Each stop costs at least one path. With a doubling of Bristol HST services I can't see how it will all fit with fast line stops.

Why?  Because Network Rail said that there'd continue to be a high speed service from Maidenhead: http://www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/News/Areas/Maidenhead/Crossrail-will-not-reduce-fast-trains-from-Maidenhead-and-Twyford-09112012.htm?

[Electric train]

Why are people thinking that some HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) will stop at Maidenhead and Slough? Each stop costs at least one path. With a doubling of Bristol HST services I can't see how it will all fit with fast line stops.

Because Crossrail will still not deliver the capacity from Maidenhead, Slough that is needed.

Also a Crossrail service will be quicker to the places its serves in London but other places it could be slower.  Traveling to St Pancras is likely to be quicker Maidenhead Padd fast and the Circle line than Crossrail to Farringdon and change to Thameslink and how about going to Waterloo or Victoria

[Btline]

Oh well, that may be the case. But that means fewer fast services overall. Each stop removes at least one out of a total of 16 paths.

[Electric train]

Oh well, that may be the case. But that means fewer fast services overall. Each stop removes at least one out of a total of 16 paths.

But it does maintain the fast services from Maidenhead

[Btline]

Oh well, that may be the case. But that means fewer fast services overall. Each stop removes at least one out of a total of 16 paths.

But it does maintain the fast services from Maidenhead

Services which are not required due to Crossrail (as explained above).

Preventing the increase in Reading and Thames Valley fast services to reduce overcrowding and reduce journey times.

Once again, an "outcry" will hinder services. Just like what is happening on Thameslink with the Wimbledon loop.

I suppose the best option would be for a new set of high speed tracks from Reading to London. (allowing the current fast lines to be used for semi fast services)

[Chris from Nailsea]

I suppose the best option would be for a new set of high speed tracks from Reading to London. (allowing the current fast lines to be used for semi fast services)

Good luck with that proposal, Btline! 

[stuving]

From Getreading and the Wokingham Times:

Crossrail could bring house price boom to Twyford and Wokingham
Apr 04, 2014 08:35 By Jon Nurse

A ripple effect could sweep Wokingham in a house price boom triggered by the extension of Crossrail through the borough, market experts believe.

Estate agents are forecasting a ^substantial^ rise in the value of homes in walking distance of the stop set for Twyford station as a wave of commuters are attracted to the village.

A shift in the market could send more families viewing homes around Wokingham and cause house prices to rise as the new London line opens in 2019.

Crossrail will be a new line dissecting London through to Shenfield, in Essex, providing commuters with direct access to the City of London and Canary Wharf.

Rail bosses announced last Thursday that the line^s western terminus will extend beyond Maidenhead to Twyford and Reading, with two services an hour heading into the capital from the borough.

House prices increased on average by more than ^10,000 around Wokingham in the past year, a trend which could continue on the completion of the ^15 billion rail project.

Neal Mackenzie, managing director at Michael Hardy Estate Agents in Wokingham, said: ^I expect it to have an impact as these things might have a ripple effect.

^If house prices do go up in Twyford, people who can^t afford to live in Twyford might look to Wokingham more. That would add further pressure [to the market].^

Mr Mackenzie expects more London workers to consider moving to Twyford thanks to the direct line through the city.

He added: ^You are opening the village to a market which has an earning potential significantly higher than the areas around Twyford and Reading.

^It^s difficult to quantify until it happens but it could bring the London effect further out of London.^

Jon Roberts, residential sales director at Romans estate agents, added: ^Crossrail will bring many benefits to the economy in

Wokingham and Twyford, resulting in property prices increasing in desirable areas.

^I predict properties within walking distance of the Crossrail station in Twyford will increase in value substantially, especially as more people are moving away from London seeking affordable housing.^

I guess you could summarise this as "estate agents find excuse to talk up house prices". Expect more of the same - there was is a similar one on-line about Reading, from the Chronicle.

Of course by 2019 we should already be seeing new fast trains due to electrification, with some increased capacity. Presumably this "new" Phase 2 study of the Reading-London service will decide which of the RUS^▸ (Route Utilisation Strategy) ideas will be adopted, e.g. the 12-car fast outer suburbans. So there may be a big improvement in the fast service with Crossrail, but not via Crossrail.

[bobm]

.. and also follows on from a similar story centred on Reading published by GetReading last week

Home owners could see the value of their property rise with the arrival of Crossrail to the town, property experts are predicting.

Yesterday's announcement that Reading will become the terminus for the cross-London route instead of Maidenhead has led to speculation the town will be a magnet for City workers.

 Crossrail route map: Reading to Shenfield

But it has also fed concerns Reading folk looking to rent or buy a home in the town could be priced out of the market.

 Crossrail under construction: Images from Europe's largest rail infrastructure project

Crossrail will operate from Reading in the west through to Shenfield, Essex, in the east providing commuters with direct access to the City of London and Canary Wharf.

Jon Roberts, residential sales director at Romans estate agents, believes the service will have an impact on house prices in Reading.

He said: "The introduction of Crossrail will definitely have a positive effect on the local economy in Reading.

"I predict properties within walking distance of the main railway station will increase in value substantially, particular those situated within the RG1 postcode.

"We^ve already seen an influx in buyers moving to Reading from London, looking for more affordable housing in this popular commuter town, and Crossrail will only make the area look more attractive.

"It wouldn^t surprise me if more new homes were developed in and around Reading, with a focus on modern apartments for the commuters.

"Investors should keep an eye out for opportunities now, as house prices continue to rise."

 Crossrail to be extended to Reading

Andy Malone, sales director of Atlantis Property, said he welcomes the arrival of Crossrail in 2019 but believes the real benefit will come if future improvements to the service speeds up the Reading to Paddington journey.

He said: "We expect house prices in Reading to continue rising above the national average and the decision to extend Crossrail only adds to the town^s stock as a commuter base. It^s important to note that this won^t be the only factor affecting price increases though.

"Although the initial implementation of Crossrail will offer direct access to more areas of the capital, it will not increase journey times straight away."

He added: "The whole town will be delighted that the correct decision has been reached and Reading will provide the west terminus for Crossrail.

"Atlantis will be backing the necessary campaign to push through a second phase of the project that makes the most of the new infrastructure and ensures Reading^s continued development into a major European economic hub."

Caversham councillor Richard Davies, Reading Borough Council's lead councillor for housing, said he is pleased Crossrail is coming to Reading but he is concerned about the possible knock-on affect to the town's workers.

He said: "There seems to be quite a lot of chatter that people are expecting house prices to be improved by easier access to London but the rents in Reading are already pretty high and people on a low income are already finding it difficult to find decent accommodation and we have a very, very long housing waiting list and it's partly for that reason.

"It's not quite London levels but its getting towards there."

Cllr Davies added: "House prices and rents in London are very high and if you are working in the City and looking at places where you can get to work in an hour or so, you will inevitably look further out and that perhaps will squeeze people who work in Reading who then can't afford the housing."

[paul7575]

The Crossrail website has now been updated/revised to show the effect on the western section service pattern of them running to Reading.   

The only 'GW^▸ (Great Western)' service remaining is 2 tph with the calling pattern of Twyford, Maidenhead, Slough, Ealing Broadway and Paddington in the peak, with the addition of Hayes and Harlington in the off-peak only.   I wouldn't call this a 'stopping service' more of a 'semi fast', but that's just my opinion..

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/surface/western-section/

Paul

[Electric train]

The Crossrail website has now been updated/revised to show the effect on the western section service pattern of them running to Reading.   

The only 'GW^▸ (Great Western)' service remaining is 2 tph with the calling pattern of Twyford, Maidenhead, Slough, Ealing Broadway and Paddington in the peak, with the addition of Hayes and Harlington in the off-peak only.   I wouldn't call this a 'stopping service' more of a 'semi fast', but that's just my opinion..

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/surface/western-section/

Paul

That depends, if it get diagrammed behind a Heathrow or West Dryton start Crossrail service on the Relief Lines it will trundling semi fast

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, the Relief Lines will have to be used with that calling pattern, so it will be interesting to see how the paths are allocated, and a big challenge to the timetable planners I'm sure.  Hopefully there will be few faster trains pathed to catch up and running behind slower services (a problem which affects far too many trains on the Chiltern Line for example).

[IndustryInsider]

The new bridge spanning the relief lines which will allow up Crossrail trains access to the Up Relief without conflicts is being slowly slid into place over several nights near Airport Junction.

[paul7575]

The new bridge spanning the relief lines which will allow up Crossrail trains access to the Up Relief without conflicts is being slowly slid into place over several nights near Airport Junction.

Is it likely that the benefits of the new Stockley flyover will appear much sooner than the first Crossrail trains?   It seems to be progressing so that it could be ready within a year or two?

Paul

[Electric train]

The new bridge spanning the relief lines which will allow up Crossrail trains access to the Up Relief without conflicts is being slowly slid into place over several nights near Airport Junction.

Apparently the civil engineers "fly" the bridge into place

The new bridge spanning the relief lines which will allow up Crossrail trains access to the Up Relief without conflicts is being slowly slid into place over several nights near Airport Junction.

Is it likely that the benefits of the new Stockley flyover will appear much sooner than the first Crossrail trains?   It seems to be progressing so that it could be ready within a year or two?

Paul

It may well do, like the Acton dive under so once signed into use the DfT^» (Department for Transport - about) are keen for NR^» (Network Rail - home page) to make use of new assets

[onthecushions]

If (AIUI^▸ (as I understand it)) two XRail services per hour will terminate at Reading, does that imply that Reading will be included in the TfL^» (Transport for London - about) fare zoning?

A modern EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit), with its excellent acceleration, top speed and braking, without the scrum of a change at Paddington, priced below the present

peak non-stop fare would  attract many of us. There would need to be more than 2/hr in the peak.

OTC