Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[Tim]

Paul,

I realise how they work, and that this is now the current standard, but what I'd like to know is whether the additional cost involved, if the new platform had to be made longer than would otherwise have been the case, is justified by the reduction in risk achieved. Clearly the risks of the older style buffers weren't considered unacceptable, otherwise thousands of trains wouldn't still be allowed to stop at them every day across the country.

I have mixed feelings about things like this.  It is good that new kit is safer than old kit and sensible for things gradually to improve.

The problem however, is that you can go too far and make the railway so expensive that people are priced off onto the more dangerous roads.

[Oxman]

A few years ago I was on duty at Reading when a voyager slid into the blocks on Platform 3. These were new, friction blocks and they were pushed back about a foot or so. The train was very busy, with lots of people stood up, ready to get off. Amazingly, no one was hurt, or even aware, that there had been an impact. Even the TM^‡(resolve) was unaware - he thought it had just been a rather sudden stop.

Whilst this was clearly a low speed impact, its not difficult to imagine that things could have been much worse had the blocks been of the fixed variety. A sudden jolt would have sent a lot of people and luggage flying.

I would think the financial case for friction blocks is easily made!

[paul7575]

Is it possible P3 at Reading might reflect an interim design, as there is nothing like the same distance behind the arrester, although (at least to my eye) it looks exactly the same type?

On the other hand, perhaps the distance behind the device is related to maximum train length, or weight?

Paul

[Tim]

I would think the financial case for friction blocks is easily made!

That absolutely fine then.  Thanks for the info

[IndustryInsider]

A few years ago I was on duty at Reading when a voyager slid into the blocks on Platform 3. These were new, friction blocks and they were pushed back about a foot or so. The train was very busy, with lots of people stood up, ready to get off. Amazingly, no one was hurt, or even aware, that there had been an impact. Even the TM^‡(resolve) was unaware - he thought it had just been a rather sudden stop.

And when you compare that to the (fairly) recent crash at Cannon Street in 1991.  Two people died and 524 were injured in a collision with buffer stops at only 10 miles an hour!  True, it was a very full train, and formed of very old rolling stock, but the type of buffer stop in use was also commented on in the inquiry.

[ellendune]

Work seems to have started on the site of the former Platform 7 today. When I went through this morning there was some sort of briefing going on and by this afternoon on the way back there were signs of work in progress with an excavator visible.

[paul7575]

There were markings painted on the platforms either side of the old P7 bay when I was there early last week, suggesting that a hoarding will be put up round the site that would take quite a big chunk off the width of platforms 8 and 9 (new numbers).

Paul

[mjones]

Over the weekend Platform 5 (formerly 4b) has now disappeared behind hoardings, and a temporary canopy has gone up over P6. Last week a section of P5 had been cut away at the far end of the island, presumably this will now continue further down as it is realigned to the new track position. In the space where the island platform is to be extended a pile boring machine and various other plant is being prepared. Sections of the track to P5 has been covered with hardboard, presumably to protect it while the works are underway.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Over the weekend Platform 5 (formerly 4b) has now disappeared behind hoardings, and a temporary canopy has gone up over P6. Last week a section of P5 had been cut away at the far end of the island, presumably this will now continue further down as it is realigned to the new track position. In the space where the island platform is to be extended a pile boring machine and various other plant is being prepared. Sections of the track to P5 has been covered with hardboard, presumably to protect it while the works are underway.

One of the "downsides" of the new P4/5/6 arrangement is that if I am catching the 634am from Reading to Gatwick and it is freezing cold and/or pouring down with rain I cant wait on the SWT^▸ (South West Trains) service which used to be parked across the platform. Most mornings the SWT is waiting on the new P4 and the RDG^‡(resolve)>Gatwick service pulls in on the new P6

[bobm]

There is also another snag.  Some trains are obviously in the system to use Platform 5 - ie the 18:52 Reading to Ascot.  It appears on the main screens around the station as platform 5 but of course there is currently no departure screen for the closed platform 5 so it effectively disappears.  It is only when, just before the stock arrives to form the service, that you get "This is a Platform alteration...the 18:52 South West Trains service etc etc" and it is switched to platform 4.

[BerkshireBugsy]

There is also another snag.  Some trains are obviously in the system to use Platform 5 - ie the 18:52 Reading to Ascot.  It appears on the main screens around the station as platform 5 but of course there is currently no departure screen for the closed platform 5 so it effectively disappears.  It is only when, just before the stock arrives to form the service, that you get "This is a Platform alteration...the 18:52 South West Trains service etc etc" and it is switched to platform 4.

This also happens to my morning service from reading to gatwick. On the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) system the 634 shows up on the display for P4 leaving AFTER the 70x service to waterloo .

Then a few minutes later there is a "platform alteration" pa and the CIS shows correctly.

Not a big issue for regular travellers but I have seen a few gatwick bound pax scratching their heads.

[adc82140]

I wonder if this is what's completely screwing up the departure boards further away on the North Downs Line? The 18:24, 19:36 and 19:55 departures off Guildford to Reading have completely disappeared from National Rail Enquiries, Live Departure Boards, the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System) at all stations on the line and whatever system FGW^▸ (First Great Western) customer service use. It was only when I asked the customer service people on the phone to check TRUST^▸ (Train Running System TOPS) that they admitted these services exist. The platform staff at Guildford are tearing their hair out, as apparently it's very difficult to add them manually to their CIS. They told me it was the same yesterday.

I have asked FGW Customer Service to look in to it.

[EBrown]

I just found some (better) time lapse footage of Cow Lane Bridge. This video includes the construction of the bridge and a little more after the bridge was moved into place. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4ca9xVYJqk

[IndustryInsider]

Sad news regarding the death of a contractor linked with the project:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2106588_police_investigate_lorry_death

[bobm]

Of little comfort to his family I know, but nice to read - if the article is accurate - that the company employs 69 year olds and doesn't send them packing at whatever age the retirement limit is this week.