Great Western Main Line electrification - ongoing discussion

[whole diary]

[bobm]

Network Rail's planning application to raise the footbridge at Reading West to allow for electrification was rejected by Reading Borough Council last night. 

During the meeting Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) officials said a refusal would mean the demolition of the existing bridge so as not to delay the whole project overall.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[grahame]

Network Rail's planning application to raise the footbridge at Reading West to allow for electrification was rejected by Reading Borough Council last night. 

During the meeting Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) officials said a refusal would mean the demolition of the existing bridge so as not to delay the whole project overall.

Oooh - doing a Pilning and making it one direction only??   Or is there another access?

Don't expect that Reading Borough Councillors liked what the Network Rail (NR) officials said if it came across as a threat - "give us permission or else ....".

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[paul7575]

Network Rail's planning application to raise the footbridge at Reading West to allow for electrification was rejected by Reading Borough Council last night. 

During the meeting NR^» (Network Rail - home page) officials said a refusal would mean the demolition of the existing bridge so as not to delay the whole project overall.

With a separate ramp access to the down platform being provided from the main road, then I doubt Network Rail will be too worried in the short term.   But surely with footbridge replacement being needed for operational reasons, shouldn't it come under permitted development rights?  

Or is there another access?

As above, it's being provided as part of the present works, unless that's been refused as well?

Paul

[Electric train]

Network Rail's planning application to raise the footbridge at Reading West to allow for electrification was rejected by Reading Borough Council last night. 

During the meeting NR^» (Network Rail - home page) officials said a refusal would mean the demolition of the existing bridge so as not to delay the whole project overall.

With a separate ramp access to the down platform being provided from the main road, then I doubt Network Rail will be too worried in the short term.   But surely with footbridge replacement being needed for operational reasons, shouldn't it come under permitted development rights?  

Or is there another access?

As above, it's being provided as part of the present works, unless that's been refused as well?

Paul

I suspect its permitted development rights, so the meeting the RBC^‡(resolve) was more consultation than negotiation

[Adelante_CCT]

Oooh - doing a Pilning and making it one direction only??   Or is there another access?

As above, it's being provided as part of the present works, unless that's been refused as well?
Paul

Not refused, this is already going ahead.


Just to clarify:

Platform 1 is currently accessed from the South via a ramp from the Tilehurst Road
Platform 2 is currently accessed from the North via a ramp with a handful of steps from the Oxford Road
A stepped bridge links the two platforms.
The new work going ahead links Platform 1 with a stepped entrance from the Oxford Road

By having no bridge in place would require those entering from the Tilehurst Road who wish to travel to Reading (and beyond) using Platform 2 to have to either enter via Platform 1, go to the other end of the platform, down via the (new) steps to the Oxford Road, go under the railway bridge, and back up via the existing entrance to Platform 2, or they can walk down Western Elms Avenue and enter Platform 2 from the Oxford Road.

[stuving]

Network Rail's planning application to raise the footbridge at Reading West to allow for electrification was rejected by Reading Borough Council last night. 

During the meeting Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) officials said a refusal would mean the demolition of the existing bridge so as not to delay the whole project overall.

With a separate ramp access to the down platform being provided from the main road, then I doubt Network Rail will be too worried in the short term.   But surely with footbridge replacement being needed for operational reasons, shouldn't it come under permitted development rights?  

Or is there another access?

As above, it's being provided as part of the present works, unless that's been refused as well?

Paul

There was an application to jack up the existing bridge by 1.8 m, which was approved in July 2016, despite being criticised for not being step-free. That was explained as due to lifts coming out of a different budget, which didn't have Reading West on its list.

This new one is for new bridge, with provision for future lifts (which means it has a level deck so is more prominent), and further south (that places it closer to the centre of the extended platform 2). Network Rail (NR) say this has been done to give a greater clearance, though it does also provide for future step-freedom. I found the application didn't come up on the Radio Block Centre (RBC^‡(resolve)) portal when searched for with "Network Rail", but it does using the number 172192.

Network Rail (NR) can build a bridge as permitted development, but Radio Block Centre (RBC) have a right to refuse the application on the grounds of the bridge's design and location. That's what they've done. Some of the neighbours in recent houses have complained a lot about it being so big and ugly, and close to them where the existing one is close to much older houses. Those old terraces have a blind end wall facing the railway, rather then their rear wall and back garden. I guess that's why the objectors are so resentful despite being a little further away.

Obviously this kind of conflict is built into the current planning rules. How it gets solved, I'm not sure. I note that the main complaint, from the house closest to the new bridge, is from someone who admits they knew this was planned when they bought. Isn't that usually seen as weakening their argument in planning law?

The access from P1 to Oxford Road is, Network Rail (NR) say, all covered by permitted development rights. However, they do include drawings of it, but not because that too has a bridge in it, so they have to. So it isn't just a ramp, nor with a few steps (as for P2), but uses a free-standing steel stair (4.8 m rise) that just happened to be going spare from another job.

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronyms

[lbraine]

I wonder if the recent strain in relationship between Network Rail and RBC^‡(resolve) is showing here.

The strain is the further delay in the completion of works to resolve the Cow Lane bottleneck, recently delayed for another 6 months (now Xmas 2018 date). Remember - on the original plan of work for the Reading Station upgrade this crucial artery into Reading was going to be one of the first delivery improvements, about the same time as the new flyover viaducts were due to be delivered.

Also there have more delays on the Reading Green Park new station apparently (info from a local councillor) despite funding being in place. Reason : Network Rail not able to commit to a start date (something to do with signalling design work)

[Thatcham Crossing]

Had a quick look this morning, the old footbridge at Newbury has come down since the latest blockade started yesterday/overnight. Large crane/s (completely blocking the road to the south Station entrance) being de-rigged this morning.

[ellendune]

The strain is the further delay in the completion of works to resolve the Cow Lane bottleneck, recently delayed for another 6 months (now Xmas 2018 date). Remember - on the original plan of work for the Reading Station upgrade this crucial artery into Reading was going to be one of the first delivery improvements, about the same time as the new flyover viaducts were due to be delivered.

What is the cause of the delay?

[CMRail]

When will Oxford be electrified?

[onthecushions]

"
Network Rail's Steve Coe said "ground conditions, drainage issues and uncharted buried services" were to blame for the delays.

He added: "We are working with our contractor to minimise the impact and would like to thank people for their patience."
....

The demolition of the old railway bridge is a key phase of a scheme to improve Reading station that has been in progress since 2011.

Tony Page, deputy leader of Reading Borough Council, said the work had "caused enormous frustrations" but he hoped this announcement would be "warmly welcomed".


"It is unfortunate Network Rail has encountered a number of issues which have delayed the project, which will now be complete by early 2019".

"
Doesn't look like TP really blames Network Rail (NR^» (Network Rail - home page)) for this.

It's what happens when decisions/promises are made by a desk bound administrator rather than a CCE.

OTC

Edit: VickiS - Clarifying Acronym

[IndustryInsider]

When will Oxford be electrified?

A question nobody knows the answer to I suspect.  The recent Class 769 order of bi-mode units probably make it less likely to happen than before unfortunately.

[onthecushions]

When will Oxford be electrified?

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) has said "CP6^▸ (Control Period 6 - The five year period between 2019 and 2024)" which only means after 1/4/2019 - the new budget period.

The delay is because track, points  and signalling need sorting first, which is being done this year.

Also quite a lot has already been spent and done North of the present termination at Appleford LC^▸ (Level Crossing). The Radley ATS^▸ (Automatic Train Supervision) is installed as well as many support foundations.

I don't think that anyone likes the turbo shuttle to Didcot Jn and Bi-modes work better under the wires, so we can be optimistic, for once.

OTC

[CMRail]

I have to visit Oxford twice a week for 2 months now and the shuttle is busy at peak and in my opinion badly timed. Also feel sorry for the poor drivers just going back and forth for a few hours.

[Adelante_CCT]

Also feel sorry for the poor drivers just going back and forth for a few hours.

Bit more exciting than Slough - Windsor