Tilehurst station - facilities, incidents and improvements (merged posts)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

In a very belated (for which I must apologise) response to a helpful suggestion from member 'paul7755', this topic has now been moved and merged here, in the interests of clarity and continuity.

Sorry, Paul.

CfN 

[john_boler]

Access improvement works begin at Goring and Streatley station

Work has begun at Goring and Streatley station that will culminate in the construction of a permanent new footbridge with passenger lifts at all three platforms plus an accessible (disabled) toilet and various other improvements designed to help mobility impaired passengers.
The target date for completion of the main works is June 2015, following which (according to First Great Western) the line between Tilehurst and Didcot will be ^energised^ for the testing and the training purposes. Evidently, this will be the first section of the Great Western electrified network to go live.
   Contractors have already set up a construction compound in the station car park: this will reduce the number of parking spaces available until works are completed. However, one of the options still being considered by First Great Western is an extension of the car park into the old coal yard after electrification.
   The first stage of the works, well under way, is clearing shrubs and undergrowth from platform 1, the west side of the line. This is to make way for realignment of the footpath along the platform between Station Road and Holmlea Road. It will enable the platform to be re-surfaced and its level raised so that six coach trains can stop at platform 1 safely when the relief lines are out of use ^frequently^ between December this year and April 2015. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) says there will be no interruption of train services.
   Next, a temporary footbridge will be erected opposite Station Road and Reading Road, although access on the eastern side will continue to be via the booking office entrance. Stairs on the western side will be immediately facing Station Road. The temporary bridge is due to be open from January 2015. The existing footbridge is due to be demolished in February; the new, permanent footbridge installed by the end of April and the temporary bridge removed by the end of June. 
   The permanent footbridge will be near the Reading end of the platforms, with the bridge deck between platforms 1 and 2 skewed towards Station Road. To make space for the staircase on the island platform the disused building at the Reading end will be demolished. Also, in place of the existing staircase on platform 4 (the booking office side) the platform canopy will be restored to match the existing style.
   With passenger lifts now certain to be installed, the main obstacle to disabled access to trains at Goring and Streatley is the narrow and overgrown pavement alongside the railway line in Wallingford Road. This path was upgraded and new crash barriers installed at the High Street end in 2006. A similar upgrade was carried out opposite Reading Road in 2012 but the 60m stretch in between has remained more or less as it was when the path was declared a public highway by the GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) nearly 90 years ago. The barrier and fence are actually supported on sections of railway track salvaged from Brunel^s broad gauge line, lifted in 1892! The Mobility Issues Group for Goring and Streatley (Miggs) is leading a community partnership scheme to plan an upgrade of the remaining pavement and secure funding for it.

[JayMac]

Is it possible john_boler to provide a source for that information you've posted?

[lordgoata]

Looks like a paraphrased version of the full page article in the latest Goring Gap News. I was meaning to ask them if I could republish it here, but forgot all about it, so not much point now

Edit: Ah ha ... I just spotted at the end of the article in the Goring Gap News.... John Boler, Chairman MIGGS

[grahame]

I just spotted at the end of the article in the Goring Gap News.... John Boler, Chairman MIGGS

In which case, it's excellent to have the article on the forum, and as it's John's work and copyright.  Thank you for adding it, John ...

Like you, lordgoata and bignosemac, I was concerned that this article / text might have been posted here from another site in contravention of copyright, and that the original author would require credit at the very least.  That happens so often that I'm afraid I tend to check unaccredited long journalist-style postings ... in this case it appears I was worrying needlessly and the posting is 110% OK 

[john_boler]

No need for concern about copyright. Ultimate sources of information: Network Rail and FGW^▸ (First Great Western).

[Adelante_CCT]

A freight train has broken down on the relief line just east of Tilehurst station, unfortunately the next train on the up main is also a freight waiting to go towards Reading West, leading to both up lines being blocked.

Cancellations to services between Didcot Parkway and Reading 

Due to a broken down train at Tilehurst disruption is expected until 16:00 05/06.

Train services between Didcot Parkway and Reading may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Pangbourne will not be served.

[eightf48544]

Flying Scotsman, if she's out, seems to be stuck at Didcot East Jn on the avoiding lines.  Now 15:37 on Up Releif both UP lines seem to be open.

Doubt about Scotsman I was  told it was filature with leaking tubes. RTT^» (Real Time Trains - website) shows it as diesel but that may be deliberate.

Interesting to watch on OTT^▸ (Open Train Times website) I might wander down to Taplow.

[Oxonhutch]

This was Reading platform 12 at about 16h45 on 5th June. Something very leaky, and environmentally unfriendly, had recently passed through in the London direction.  What ever it was, it looked expensive.

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Obviously making sure there was plenty of lubrication to the middle cylinder.

[stuving]

This was Reading platform 12 at about 16h45 on 5th June. Something very leaky, and environmentally unfriendly, had recently passed through in the London direction.  What ever it was, it looked expensive.

Why do you say "in the London direction"?

[Adelante_CCT]

Oxonhutch appears correct, the failed train passed through P12 at 16:00

[Oxonhutch]

Why do you say "in the London direction"?

It was the direction of spatter that showed movement from right to left

[Western Pathfinder]

This is beginning to sound a bit like CSI Oxonhutch 😁

[Oxonhutch]

A geologist can't help himself working out in which direction things flowed! There's money in that game ...