Reading Green Park

[whole diary]

[RichT54]

The tops of the lift shafts make them look a bit like church towers, or parts of a castle.

Is this a one-off, or are there other stations with a similar style?

[paul7575]

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? 

There’s a few still photos on the Reading council Flickr site showing the south end, I’d put my money on the two flights of steps, one each side, being emergency escape routes, either that or it’s one “up and down” escape route from the up platform… 

The link to the stills is immediately underneath the video image on the webpage posted by II yesterday:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/readingnewsimages/sets/72177720296874330/

Google Streetview does show an existing NR^» (Network Rail - home page) maintenance access gate at bridge level, but it was apparently behind the crash barrier when photographed.

Paul

[CyclingSid]

Well the fences are down so I suppose the job is finished. At least the barrier on the bridge is done with Kee Klamps, which were originally made in Reading.

You might get the idea that I am not impressed. Silly me, I assumed they would have taken the opportunity to improve the road when it was closed for 16 weeks. The road is pretty much a death trap for cyclists. The road sensors have not been tuned to detect cyclists, your only "protection" is a sign which says "CAUTION CYCLISTS IN ROAD AHEAD". When I was there a Bentley came over the bridge at probably 30mph, would have been unsighted if I was coming up the hill, similarly I would have been unsighted of him. The only response in those situations is to leap for the hedge.

The next bridge south over the railway, on Pingewood Road South is very well protected by sensors and you can cycle over quite safely. Not sure why they couldn't have upgraded Kirtons Farm Lane the same, or even announced they had plans to when the budget was available.

[nickswift99]

The Reading Post, one of the local newspapers has published an article and some photos of the station.

The article can be found at https://www.getreading.co.uk/news/reading-berkshire-news/gallery/readings-green-park-station-taking-23261322

New images and aerial footage show Reading's new £20m train station taking shape - and on track to open this summer.

Long-anticipated Green Park Station was due to open by the end of 2021 but the date was pushed back due to the Covid pandemic. Reading Borough Council says construction work, which began in spring 2019, is progressing well.

It has released stunning panoramic photos taken at sunset, showing the station as it nears completion. Drone footage of the site commissioned by the council from www.jsaerial.co.uk has also been shared.

The new station now has two 150m platforms, a new station building and a new overbridge, providing fully accessible access to both platforms via stairs and lifts.

Outside, there is a new bus interchange and cycle parking facilities along with two car parks, including 12 blue badge spaces and drop off areas

Over the coming weeks, work will continue on site to complete the final finishes to the station. This will include toilet facilities, accessible baby change, ticket vending machines and signs.

Green Park Station will sit on the Reading to Basingstoke line and will be served by a half-hourly service north to Reading and south to Basingstoke through the day. It will have two platforms with disabled access and a "multi-modal interchange" with a surface level car park, bus stops, taxi rank and cycle parking.

Construction work is being led by Reading Borough Council, with Green Park Station expected to be open for public use this summer. The council says that when complete, the new station will help to alleviate queues on the A33 by offering an "alternative sustainable mode of travel".

It said the station will significantly improve accessibility to the south Reading area, where large-scale development is taking place. Projects in the area include the expansion of Green Park Business Park and Green Park Village.

[eightonedee]

And with what I anticipate will be my last visit before it opens, here's what it looked like this morning.

Let's hope Reading avoid relegation so I can use it for a match or two in the Championship next season.

[stuving]

I can't work out, from those pictures, what the tactile/visual edge markings are going to be exactly. Because they may look a bit different from usual. I found this letter from the "Deputy Director, Rail Industry Standards and Capability, Department for Transport" to Reading Borough Council on "non-compliance at Reading Green Park for the danger area requirements in the PRM^▸ (Persons with Reduced Mobility) NTSN". Exciting stuff, as you can imagine.

This is all about the danger area near the platform edgebeing a lot wider than usual - 1500 mm, or about twice as wide. Since the risk here is aerodynamic effects of passing trains, I would guess that it's about intermodal trains passing at their current line speed (i.e. isn't going to be reduced for this new station). While these are not as fast as passenger trains, they are as fast as goods trains get and the containers are big and unevenly spaced. This is a quote from some specialists*:

Some trains are designed to be, or are naturally more aerodynamic than others. The shape of the train (exterior) impacts the gust generated and the lateral extension of the wake caused by the movement of the train. Freight trains, like the one in the video, present a greater aerodynamic risk when passing than passenger trains for this reason. The greatest risk comes from goods carrying exposed cargo, such as road vehicles, or from container trains with large spaces between containers due to inconsistency in the train profile.

And what happens in other stations, like Mortimer and Bramley? It looks as it the danger area is marked at a bit less than 1 metre, as usual. Maybe the locals there wear lead boots?

(* leedeo engineering, which appears to be a Spanish bit of RAMS Engineering Services).

[CyclingSid]

Maybe the locals there wear lead boots?

Very effective when somebody suggested that Mortimer station should be moved.

[CyclingSid]

Passing through yesterday all the glass doors to the platform and the road side entrance appear to be in place.

[TaplowGreen]

Is there a date for the station to be opened yet?

[Marlburian]

"New Reading Green station hopes to open 'as soon as possible'"

Typical local website journalism:

"The new station on the Reading to Basingstoke line was expected to open to passengers this summer."

"The long-anticipated Green Park Station is on track to open by summer 2022."

[TaplowGreen]

...........so when exactly is it going to be open?   

[stuving]

...........so when exactly is it going to be open?   

Since it "hopes to open 'as soon as possible'", maybe you should ask it?

And where is that a picture of? Not Reading Green Park station, that's for sure.

[CyclingSid]

When I went by earlier in the week they were doing some "landscaping", well planting at any rate. The plants might die before it opens?

[stuving]

And where is that a picture of? Not Reading Green Park station, that's for sure.

getreading have now found a picture of the station! Quite recent, too, by the look of it.

The first one was actually of the new Rivermead (leisure centre) being built next to the old one, with the Caversham Road Premier Inn (actually in Richfield Avenue) behind it.

[Marlburian]

To open by "end of the year": https://www.reading.gov.uk/vehicles-roads-and-transport/transport-schemes-and-projects/reading-green-park-station/