Reading Green Park

[whole diary]

[CyclingSid]

It was busy down at the Green Park bridge yesterday, as I also had a check on the progress (?).

Are they going to remove one strip of tactile paving? I can forsee confusion otherwise. Can't understand the emergency exits, from the bridge it looks like you have a long ramp followed by steps, not exactly wheelchair friendly. It might all look sensible from another angle.

[Electric train]

Are they going to remove one strip of tactile paving? I can forsee confusion otherwise. Can't understand the emergency exits, from the bridge it looks like you have a long ramp followed by steps, not exactly wheelchair friendly. It might all look sensible from another angle.

In the emergency planning a phrase "position of relative safety" is used this allows for all people of differing mobility to get away from danger, this does not mean they can self-evacuate completely.  These "position of relative safety" will be known to the RIO^▸ (Rail Incident Officer) and agreed with the local Fire and Rescue and will be in the station evacuation plan

[eightonedee]

Another month passes, and once again I am in the vicinity, so I had another look to see what (if anything) has changed. Here's another view from the Smallmead road bridge - perhaps we can run a monthly "spot the progess" competition?

There's still two rows of tactile paving on each platform, but is that some new tarmac between them? The other change is a little more signage and some puzzling signage/gate hanging.

On the east side stairway up to the bridge there's now some emergency exit signage, with a panic bar. But.... the panic bar is on the outer side of the gates, so anyone seeking an emergency exit from the station cannot reach it. What's more, on the one at the top (second picture if this post goes to plan!) there does not seem to be a mortice for the catch in the non-hanging gatepost. It's currently chained close! Have they hung the gate the wrong way around?

It's a shame that these are gated emergency accesses only. While there may not be many of them, the residents of Searle's Farm Lane and roads off it face quite a long detour to reach the station, as do those going fishing or birdwatching at the nearby gravel pits.  

[bradbrka]

I believe the east side stairway is not an exit route but is to allow those who are taken via the west side stairs to safety in the carpark, as that's where it leads to. This would explain the push bar on the bridge side of the gate.

The other change that can't be seen clearly from your photo is that the carpark and access roads are now fully completed including all the white and yellow lining.

[Electric train]

Another month passes, and once again I am in the vicinity, so I had another look to see what (if anything) has changed. Here's another view from the Smallmead road bridge - perhaps we can run a monthly "spot the progess" competition?

There's still two rows of tactile paving on each platform, but is that some new tarmac between them? The other change is a little more signage and some puzzling signage/gate hanging.

On the east side stairway up to the bridge there's now some emergency exit signage, with a panic bar. But.... the panic bar is on the outer side of the gates, so anyone seeking an emergency exit from the station cannot reach it. What's more, on the one at the top (second picture if this post goes to plan!) there does not seem to be a mortice for the catch in the non-hanging gatepost. It's currently chained close! Have they hung the gate the wrong way around?

It's a shame that these are gated emergency accesses only. While there may not be many of them, the residents of Searle's Farm Lane and roads off it face quite a long detour to reach the station, as do those going fishing or birdwatching at the nearby gravel pits.  

I have been involved in the past with EXP (emergency evacuation plan) for Thameslink core, there will have been an EVP developed for Green Park at an early stage of the design, this will have had blue light services involvement, Local Authority, NR^» (Network Rail - home page) Ops and TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) involvement.

There will be a walk through as part of the hand over process where any errors in the build or indeed the EVP should be picked up and then corrected

[Marlburian]

Aerial views - and a video (which I can never got to load on this particular website).

"The station ... is scheduled to open in spring 2023. It was originally due to open this summer but the project has been delayed by material shortages and 'unforeseen power supply issues'. It will now need to go through a 'commissioning and safety validation' process before the station can welcome its first trains and serve passengers."

[eightonedee]

Thanks Marlburian

I also tried unsuccessfully to get the video to load from Get Reading.

This link might work instead - https://media.reading.gov.uk/news/breath-taking-aerial-footage-shows-entirety-of-new-reading-green-park-station.

Am I the only one who finds the delay in finally opening the station surprising? When construction of this project started we had Theresa May as PM, no-one knew what Covid meant and there was peace in Europe. What will the world be like when we can finally use it?

[Witham Bobby]

Am I the only one who finds the delay in finally opening the station surprising? When construction of this project started we had Theresa May as PM, no-one knew what Covid meant and there was peace in Europe. What will the world be like when we can finally use it?

Who knew that a station building project to lead to such strife and grief in the world?

[TonyK]

Am I the only one who finds the delay in finally opening the station surprising? When construction of this project started we had Theresa May as PM, no-one knew what Covid meant and there was peace in Europe. What will the world be like when we can finally use it?

I reckon efforts to reopen the Portishead line go back at least as far as Jim Callaghan, predating Channel 4 by a few years.

[grahame]

Am I the only one who finds the delay in finally opening the station surprising? When construction of this project started we had Theresa May as PM, no-one knew what Covid meant and there was peace in Europe. What will the world be like when we can finally use it?

I reckon efforts to reopen the Portishead line go back at least as far as Jim Callaghan, predating Channel 4 by a few years.

Nothing new in delay after a station building are completed - Bradford-on-Avon station was built in 1850 but the first train did not run until 1857.

[paul7575]

Nothing new in delay after a station building are completed - Bradford-on-Avon station was built in 1850 but the first train did not run until 1857.

I think those builders might have moved on to Crossrail… 

Paul

[CyclingSid]

My other half was an architect where there was initial design concept done for Reading Green Park at least 20 years ago.

It also doesn't help that the station etc straddles three local authorities, none of whom are particularly good at internal communication let alone between each other.

It will be very interesting to see what its usage figures are five years after opening, will probably be the most expensive station per passenger.

[CyclingSid]

Not sure it is progress, but I managed to cycle up to the front entrance of Reading Green Park station. The person in the security hut was deep in their mobile/book.

Didn't hang about. Couple of people working on the down platform, one out the front loading a vehicle.

[Noggin]

My other half was an architect where there was initial design concept done for Reading Green Park at least 20 years ago.

Didn't Reading BC still have cash in escrow until recently which would have been the developer's contribution to a Reading Thames Valley Park railway station?

[CyclingSid]

Went down to RGP last week and it appears that all contractors signage has been removed. Does this mean that the end game is in sight (with a good telescope!).