Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[EBrown]

Although I travel through reading every working day it is dark at both ends of my journey so I don't get to see the progress on the new platform (4?) Which is being built next to platform 4b so am pleased to see the updates coming out vie this forum.


Am I dreaming or is it supposed to be ready for use when they change the platform numbers over the Xmas break?


Once again thanks for the updates and newsletter - much appreciated

Platform 4 or the future number 7 will open on 27th December "at approximately 1400"
Platform 9 or the future number 10 will open on 28th December
The new platform 4 will open on 31 December.

That's all I have dates for new platforms, I think the platforms are meant to all be done when the station "reopens" at Easter 2013

Edit: All platforms will be renumbered (not necessarily complete  on 27 December)

[Worcester_Passenger]

I'm not a regular user of Reading - most of the time it's just that place where you get delayed going to and from London.

But I had to change there on Monday to get to Gatwick. And I really hadn't appreciated how much work is going on.

Thanks for posting the Staff Newsletter. I'll certainly be following this thread with much more interest in the future.

[paul7575]

IIRC^▸ (if I recall/remember/read correctly) the main reason for the extended closure of the 'Southern' platforms for a few days during the Christmas week is that there isn't quite enough room to fit a pair of operational tracks between the new P4 and the new P5 (current P4B) - this is due to the slight curvature of the existing platform, which has to be trimmed back slightly in places so it's parallel to the new platform.

I'd assume (but no guarantees!) that the track laying alongside the new P4 (or at least the first 8 car length) probably won't start until the in use track and all its top and bottom ballast is removed - which will allow them the space to do a thorough job over the whole width.

As far as the new platform structure is concerned though, I think progress has moved up a few gears over the last 10 days or so, and it ought to be structurally complete quite soon.  It also looks as though the canopy will only extend as far as the bridge - which still covers two thirds of the overall length, so should be quite adequate for a 12 car platform.

Paul

[BerkshireBugsy]

As far as the new platform structure is concerned though, I think progress has moved up a few gears over the last 10 days or so, and it ought to be structurally complete quite soon.  It also looks as though the canopy will only extend as far as the bridge - which still covers two thirds of the overall length, so should be quite adequate for a 12 car platform.

I'm sure progress is moving on but when it is raining and dark it isn't always to see what is happening. Certainly over the last few weeks  have noticed work on the canopy etc progressing quickly - at what point will they lay the track up to the platform?

Out of curiosity when will the track get laid in the eastern underpass? I notice the points are there on the southern side - will this wait until more work has been completed on the northern side?

[paul7575]

...at what point will they lay the track up to the platform?

I just explained that in the post you are replying to?   However if you mean the track beyond,  and the section over Vastern Rd bridge, then they could do that before hand as it doesn't interfere with the existing route into 4B.

Out of curiosity when will the track get laid in the eastern underpass? I notice the points are there on the southern side - will this wait until more work has been completed on the northern side?

I expect as it joins the track leading towards platforms 14 and 15 it will probably only be done once the platforms are built, so just prior to May 2013.

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

It also looks as though the canopy will only extend as far as the bridge - which still covers two thirds of the overall length, so should be quite adequate for a 12 car platform.

Especially when you consider the current canopy on 4A/B only provides shelter for just over two carriage lengths, about 30%, of the platform.

[Pedros]

Yesterday evening, during the delays to services arriving at Reading Station, the arrival screens were especially confusing.  They were actually showing two trains as 'Arrived' at the same time! The Hereford train, which was on platform 4 with doors still open but about to leave, and the Swansea train which was still outside the station, both displayed 'Arrived'.  You can imagine the confusion with passengers who were already heavily delayed scrambling on and off trains.  Very poor if you ask me.

Some passengers were even saying that stating that the train had 'arrived' long before it actually did was a way to mask some of the punctuality performance. It raised a wry smile from me.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Yesterday evening, during the delays to services arriving at Reading Station, the arrival screens were especially confusing.  They were actually showing two trains as 'Arrived' at the same time! The Hereford train, which was on platform 4 with doors still open but about to leave, and the Swansea train which was still outside the station, both displayed 'Arrived'.  You can imagine the confusion with passengers who were already heavily delayed scrambling on and off trains.  Very poor if you ask me.

I think what makes matters worse is the fact that due to the limited width on P4 the HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) pull much further down - which has been discussed elsewhere. So you had the situation where Pax walked all the way down to P4 only to find the service they were waiting for was re-platformed to arrive at P5/P8/P9 etc.

Hopefully tonight will be better

[bobm]

Yesterday evening, during the delays to services arriving at Reading Station, the arrival screens were especially confusing.  They were actually showing two trains as 'Arrived' at the same time! The Hereford train, which was on platform 4 with doors still open but about to leave, and the Swansea train which was still outside the station, both displayed 'Arrived'.  You can imagine the confusion with passengers who were already heavily delayed scrambling on and off trains.  Very poor if you ask me.

You would think it would be fairly simple to make the "trigger" point for the "Arrived" to be displayed after Signal TR36 - the one just outside the station.  "The train now arriving at Platform 4..." is triggered as the train passes the signal - would make sense for both to be in parallel.

[EBrown]

Here is Issue 1 of Reading Station News.

Distributed starting tomorrow.

[BerkshireBugsy]

Here is Issue 1 of Reading Station News.

Distributed starting tomorrow.

Very informative and well presented. Thanks!

[Boppy]

Indeed good first edition.

Top of page 3 though seems to have a photograph of a different station though?  It's certainly not the barriers at Reading.

[JayMac]

You're right Boppy. That's the gateline at Oxford!

[hornbeam]

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.

[BerkshireBugsy]

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.

And I believe it sometimes appears before it has actually arrived at the platform.

Premature Announcments....a common problem