Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[IndustryInsider]

New starting signals for the southern platforms have been installed, blanked out pending commissioning over Christmas.  Standalone signal masts to replace the overhead gantry that currently houses their equivalents.

[lordgoata]

Anyone know why there has been a change to the infomation screens to show 'arrived'? seems a bit pointless as often it says it quite a while before the service shows up.

They are just being consistent with the "On time" display that is shown for trains that are running up to 3 minutes late

[paul7575]

Anyone know why there has been a change to the infomation screens to show 'arrived'? seems a bit pointless as often it says it quite a while before the service shows up.

Your question has already arrived - back in October on page 26 of this thread...   

The ensuing discussions tried to work out what triggered the early arrival of the arrived indication.   

Paul

[Louis94]

The arrival indication is triggered by the passing of the signal outside of the platform, the reason for its early appearance will be because of how far out of the station this signal is.

[BerkshireBugsy]

On arrival on platform 4b last night (Tuesday 29th Nov) it *appeared* as if the trackways on the new platform 4 were being cleared ready for track laying- is this the case or was I imagining it ? It was very dark outside!

[paul7575]

They were using one of those laser controlled 'road rail' bulldozers to level the formation on Monday afternoon - I asked a passing 'orange person with a NR^» (Network Rail - home page) label' if that meant track laying was reasonably imminent, and he didn't say no!

Which just goes to show that what I was told at the information display outside the station a few months back might have been duff gen.  (I mentioned the other day that the tracks in new P4 couldn't be laid because they might interfere with those in new P5 - of course it may just turn out that they can be physically installed, but not actually used by trains as the full 'six foot' gap isn't there.)

They're definitely at a stage where a lot can happen in a week, I noticed that beyond Vastern Rd bridge the platform copings were in position,  and immediately on the station side of the bridge a stockpile of copings and tactile pavers was in position - they can be put in place pretty quickly I expect.

Paul

[BerkshireBugsy]

Thanks Paul I am genuinely impressed with the progress made in the last two daya

[BerkshireBugsy]

I noticed this morning (Thursday 1st dec) 3 new upright supports just past the covered area on the above platforms - out of curiosity does anyone know what these are for? They would be about the right for support a roof extension but would be suprised if that is what they are for.

You can tell I have too much time on my hands when changing trains at reading!

[Boppy]

Some pictures I took this morning of the work on Platform 9.

Most of the buildings appear to have been knocked down with the spoil heaps out to the west.

What interests me next which, hasn't been discussed much as far as I'm aware, is the track work about to happen on platform 9.  I see that pieces of spare track have been laid down next to the existing track and there are bags of ballast sat at one end.

As I understand it the plan is for the existing platform 9 to be extended southward (to make room to the north for the new platforms)  So I'm assuming the first step is to re-lay the track for platform 9 to make space for the platform to be extended southwards?

Boppy.

[paul7575]

Platform 9 (10 in the new scheme) definitely does get widened to the south over its full length,  there will only be two tracks between the two existing islands - the eventual up and down mains as it happens. 

However what surprises me is the possibility that it is happening over the Christmas and New Year partial closure of the station.  Unless they are using some sort of very high speed installation method with prefabricated sections it seems a very ambitious timescale...

Paul 

[BerkshireBugsy]

On my way in to Reading this morning (from Reading West) I notice two yellow Network Rail sets parked up in the area next to the GWML^▸ (Great Western Main Line).Does anyone know if these are here in relation to any local acitvities (such as track laying changes to Reading Station)?

[IndustryInsider]

I noticed this morning (Thursday 1st dec) 3 new upright supports just past the covered area on the above platforms - out of curiosity does anyone know what these are for? They would be about the right for support a roof extension but would be suprised if that is what they are for.

I would guess they're supports for a barrier that will separate platforms 4A/B whilst work to lengthen them takes place one at a time.

What interests me next which, hasn't been discussed much as far as I'm aware, is the track work about to happen on platform 9.  I see that pieces of spare track have been laid down next to the existing track and there are bags of ballast sat at one end.

As I understand it the plan is for the existing platform 9 to be extended southward (to make room to the north for the new platforms)

I think that track will be laid in the gap very soon and some temporary platform sections will be required whilst a proper platform eventually takes shape a few metres south of the current one.  I think that sections of yellow coloured temporary platform are being installed down the slope to the eastern underpass - they certainly look like temporary sections of platform, and possibly the prefabricated sections that Paul was hinting at.  I'm sure the 'Station News' will tell us shortly.

[coachflyer]

Was told this week that over the Christmas period platform 9 (new 10) is being widened from the didcot end up to the over bridge with a 25mph speed through it.

[paul7575]

I think that track will be laid in the gap very soon and some temporary platform sections will be required whilst a proper platform eventually takes shape a few metres south of the current one.  I think that sections of yellow coloured temporary platform are being installed down the slope to the eastern underpass - they certainly look like temporary sections of platform, and possibly the prefabricated sections that Paul was hinting at.  I'm sure the 'Station News' will tell us shortly.

That's the sort of method I was thinking of.  Presumably once you have something (anything) that allows passengers to reach the newly aligned track, you can replace it with the permanent structure gradually.  I once had an idea that you could build a mobile temporary deck that ran on the redundant rails for such a project - but I expect H&S^▸ (Health and Safety) experts wouldn't allow something that could set off down the line if its brakes failed...

Paul

[BerkshireBugsy]

Last night I noticed on the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) displays at Guildford showed that buses were replacing train services between Wokingham and Reading (Sunday only I think) so I wonder what is being done. I wish it was light when I travel in and out Reading so I could see what was going on!