Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[ellendune]

...and of course details of the Christmas platform alterations are here http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Content.aspx?id=5297

It says

31 December 2011 - The new platform 5 (existing platform 4b) will cease to be in use. Train services which currently use platform 4b will use platform 6

I assume this means the new platform 6 (existing platform 4a) rather than the existing platform 6 (which used to be used for the North Downs line trains many years ago). It does not say when 4a is to be renumbered I assume at the same time as 4b though.

[ChrisB]

That is correct.

Those sw platforms don't all come into use for a while after Xmas...

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, Platforms 4a, 4b and the new southern platform will be renumbered 4, 5, & 6 although 5 will closed to be lengthened and straightened out, followed by 6, so all three southern platforms won't be in use until late next year (if I remember correctly).

The current Platform 6, will be temporarily numbered Platform 16, before closing permanently in the future when the four new platforms 12/13/14/15 open in 2013.

[Boppy]

Some pictures I took this morning (with my phone hence the not great quality) to show the latest work removing the canopy from Platform 4 (first attachment) and platform 9 (second attachment).

Boppy.

[paul7575]

Having suggested in my post yesterday evening that there were still no drawings available, I double checked this morning in case anything has changed, and it has.   

The planning application number for the station rebuild is 10/01269/FUL, and every time I've looked before it wasn't there. 
Planning sites don't usually allow direct links to individual files - they tend to time out so I'll just link to the application search page:

http://planninghome.reading.gov.uk/online-applications/search.do?action=advanced&searchType=Application

From the application summary click 'documents', then the link 'view associated documents'.  Of the 48 docs listed,  the 'proposed plans' give a layer by layer plan of the platforms, except the tail end of P4/5/6.  The 300 page 35 MB Design and Access Statement (DAS^▸ (Driver Advisory System)) is interesting because it shows a number of proposals that were eventually decided against.

Getting back to my suggestion yesterday about escape routes, the answer is that each of the new platform ends, (so that's 4,5/6, and both ends of 12/13,14/15) has an emergency fire escape route to meet current design standards.  Except for P4 these all include subway sections.   The existing platforms including islands for 8/9 and 10/11 are mostly reworked existing so don't get escape provision as it is not retrospective. This info appears at the very end of the DAS. In extremis I expect the lines would be blocked and escape across the tracks to adjacent 'new' platforms would be the solution.

Hope the linked info gives plenty of detailed answers to how it will all look eventually.

I've attached a snip of one of the useful plans as a taster...

Paul

[paul7575]

Yes, Platforms 4a, 4b and the new southern platform will be renumbered 4, 5, & 6 although 5 will closed to be lengthened and straightened out, followed by 6, so all three southern platforms won't be in use until late next year (if I remember correctly).

July 2012 from various dates suggested/quoted previously - which seems very much achievable on current progress.

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

Hope the linked info gives plenty of detailed answers to how it will all look eventually.

Very useful.  Thanks very much for searching for the links.

[paul7575]

Another old question answered... 

Reading BC planning case 10/01329/FUL concerns the reopened eastern underpass.  In that application those curious girder arrangements added to the overbridge are explained as strengthening works to the bridge parapets and steeelwork webs. To be carried out on the outside face of the existing parapets to avoid closing the main lines.

Paul 

[Boppy]

<Bing Bong>

The new information screens and announcements system now appears up and running at Reading!

Changes I've noticed so far:

- As shown in the staff update the platform information tv screens are now blue rather than "Great Western" green.
- The platform indicators now show "Arrived" - I don't think I've seen them do this before.  It's a shame they say it before the train has actually arrived though!
- The announcers are different (I'm sure others can say who they now are).  They sound much more awkward though:  "Platform 5 for the <pause> 08 <pause> 52 <pause> service to London Paddington..." compared to the old announcements.
- And "Bing Bong"!

[mjones]

There's been a lot of visible progress at 4a/4b over the last week, the new canopy has started to be put up on the new platform.

[IndustryInsider]

The announcers are different (I'm sure others can say who they now are).  They sound much more awkward though:  "Platform 5 for the <pause> 08 <pause> 52 <pause> service to London Paddington..." compared to the old announcements.

Yes, it's the fella who does the recorded announcements for engineering works.  Used (along with the female voice) on many new PA^▸ (Public Address) installations in the recent system replacements.  He has a good voice, but sadly his recordings for this system aren't very good - speaking slightly too slowly with unnatural sounding pauses.  Compare that with the female voice on the same system which is fine and it's a bit of a shame.

Perhaps the unnecessary pauses can be removed with a bit of jiggery-pokery to the sound files recorded?

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

<Bing Bong>

The new information screens and announcements system now appears up and running at Reading!

Changes I've noticed so far:

- The platform indicators now show "Arrived" - I don't think I've seen them do this before.  It's a shame they say it before the train has actually arrived though!
-

I caught the 1045 hrs off P5 yesterday and when the "Arrived" announcement came up a number of passengers (presumably non-regulars) waiting for it were visibly unsettled, eg scanning the other platforms to see if the train had arrived somewhere else.  Looking down the line the 1045 was still a speck in the distance well west of Cow Lane!

But I would like to say I noticed lots of helpful FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff around on all the platforms, which deserves to be commended.

[Louis94]

I caught the 1045 hrs off P5 yesterday and when the "Arrived" announcement came up a number of passengers (presumably non-regulars) waiting for it were visibly unsettled, eg scanning the other platforms to see if the train had arrived somewhere else.  Looking down the line the 1045 was still a speck in the distance well west of Cow Lane!

The screens show "Arrived" when the train passes the signal before the platform, and because of the junctions at Reading and the obviously reduced speed limit, it can seem like it is miles away! The new screens should not do this however!

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

Wouldn't be better if the "Arrived" indication came up when the train entered the track circuit for the platform starting signal?

[Louis94]

Wouldn't be better if the "Arrived" indication came up when the train entered the track circuit for the platform starting signal?

Unfortunately that isn't possible, as the track circuit isn't used at all when it comes to tracking trains, it all to do with the train description which is available at every main aspect signal, and not every track circuit.