Reading Green Park

[whole diary]

[eightonedee]

The ghost of Jethro is probably working on a variation of his famous routine - "Trains don't stop Green Park yet"

[TaplowGreen]

When were services supposed to start serving Reading Park?

[stuving]

When were services supposed to start serving Reading Park?

Supposed? When and by whom? And how - aren't we talking crystal balls here?

[grahame]

When were services supposed to start serving Reading Park?

Supposed? When and by whom? And how - aren't we talking crystal balls here?

From WikiWand

Plans were announced in July 2007 and approved by the Office of Rail Regulation in March 2009. Building was originally expected to begin in early 2009, and be completed in early 2010. However ...

[TaplowGreen]

Thankyou Graham.

[eightonedee]

Being in the vicinity this morning, and using local knowledge gained in more than 40 years' birding at the nearby gravel pits , I was able to "circumvent" Balfour Beatty's "security" to bring you this progress report picture.

It is beginning to look like it might not be far away from being finished!

[CyclingSid]

Thank you eightonedee. Went by yesterday, but can't really get detail on a Down Cross Country. Still intrigued as to what they are supposed to be doing to the road. Get the impression there is a "ramp" up to the road by the bridge?

[IndustryInsider]

What is the large building by the station going to be?

[stuving]

What is the large building by the station going to be?

The area of Green Park Village on the station side of the "lake" is called Bankside Gardens. That big block and the similar one behind it are identified as affordable housing.

[eightonedee]

Thank you eightonedee. Went by yesterday, but can't really get detail on a Down Cross Country. Still intrigued as to what they are supposed to be doing to the road. Get the impression there is a "ramp" up to the road by the bridge?

It looks like there will be a pedestrian access to Kirton's Farm Road, the one going over the Smallmead road bridge. It is a bit difficult to work out why it has been necessary to close the road for so long. There's a pavement being constructed over the bridge to connect to this ramp, but bearing in mind that this is a light-controlled single carriageway bridge, I would have though that there would have been sufficient working room to allow the bridge to continue in use, or at least only to close during working hours weekdays with the works safely behind construction fencing during the rest of the day and weekends.   

[stuving]

Thank you eightonedee. Went by yesterday, but can't really get detail on a Down Cross Country. Still intrigued as to what they are supposed to be doing to the road. Get the impression there is a "ramp" up to the road by the bridge?

It looks like there will be a pedestrian access to Kirton's Farm Road, the one going over the Smallmead road bridge. It is a bit difficult to work out why it has been necessary to close the road for so long. There's a pavement being constructed over the bridge to connect to this ramp, but bearing in mind that this is a light-controlled single carriageway bridge, I would have though that there would have been sufficient working room to allow the bridge to continue in use, or at least only to close during working hours weekdays with the works safely behind construction fencing during the rest of the day and weekends.   

Presumably that is to provide step-free access to the Up platform. If the only access is via the footbridge and lifts, then if a lift is out of use the only step-free route goes via another station to swap sides. I would guess there's a strong preference for a better alternative - even a long and inconvenient path is better than using another station. Mind you, I can't find it mentioned in "Design standards for accessible railway stations: a code of practice by the Department for Transport and Transport Scotland" or "Station design principles for Network Rail".

[IndustryInsider]

Some nice drone footage of the station, with supporting aerial photographs:

https://media.reading.gov.uk/news/breathtaking-aerial-footage-shows-latest-progress-on-green-park-station

Nice to see it finally nearing completion and the station building is much more beefier than I was expecting.  Looks like it'll tie in nicely with the completion of the other developments by the station.

[paul7575]

Some nice drone footage of the station, with supporting aerial photographs:

https://media.reading.gov.uk/news/breathtaking-aerial-footage-shows-latest-progress-on-green-park-station

Nice to see it finally nearing completion and the station building is much more beefier than I was expecting.  Looks like it'll tie in nicely with the completion of the other developments by the station.

We generally seem to be getting far better construction quality with many of these new stations, at least compared to some of the rubbish that was normal in the 80s

[eightonedee]

I was at Smallmead bridge again this morning - approaching via the route referred to in my last post, although the gate (moveable section of Herras fencing) was open.

When I arrived at the top of the bridge I was hailed by a jovial orange and yellow clad Balfour Beatty operative in a foreign accent. I explain I was just getting a photo (see below), and we fell into conversation.

He explained that he was Portuguese, born in Angola in the last days of colonial rule, his family returning "home" after periods in Mozambique and Venezuela in 1980. He came to the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) many years ago due to the lack of opportunity in Portugal and had worked for BB for many years. He was hoping to settle permanently, the problem being the cost of accommodation, so he was contemplating a move to South Wales.

When I queried the slowness of the project he was clear what the problem was. He said that his managers were angry and frustrated at the continual problem in obtaining the requisite permissions for works, then dealing with the continual cancellation of planned work by "the railways". He said that there was a problem with stress in his team, and his boss was suffering from depression.

Nonetheless, he expressed pride in the project, and his role in it, and in the contribution it would make to the local community. He regretted that he would not be there at the time the station would finally be open.

Here's a view through the Herras fencing today - the access from Searles Farm Lane that goes over the bridge will not be step free - there's now a newly constructed concrete staircase up to the bridge - or is this just a work access? 

[IndustryInsider]

Lovely to hear about the background, ambitions and thoughts of what you and I just think of as another member of the 'orange army'.