Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[mjones]

Thanks for posting this. Sadly I will miss it as I am not travelling through Reading again until next week. It will be interesting to see how the decking on p6 has advanced by then - I suspect quite alot as they appeared to be starting it when I came through Wednesday PM.

Most of the precast base slabs seemed to be in place this morning, and the entrance to the emergency exit at the far end of the platforms is nearly complete. The latter is a very solid cast concrete structure considering it only has to provide shelter for the steps down to the subway, looks strong enough to be part of an air raid shelter!

[BerkshireBugsy]

Most of the precast base slabs seemed to be in place this morning, and the entrance to the emergency exit at the far end of the platforms is nearly complete. The latter is a very solid cast concrete structure considering it only has to provide shelter for the steps down to the subway, looks strong enough to be part of an air raid shelter!

Yes, I had noticed the "Solid" construction of the emergency exit when pulling into P5. Speaking as a frequent user of those platforms it will be nice to get some space back on P5/P6 as it gets cramped on P5 quite easily. Having said the FGW^▸ (First Great Western) have done their best to hold back the "new" passengers until dis-embarking pax have left the platform.

[onthecushions]

Good to have first class scheme and publicity. Usually it's one or the other.

As an aside does anyone know why NR^» (Network Rail - home page) didn't opt for a simple modern overall roof or train shed, like at Leeds City?

The platform canopies and escalator covers look very complicated

OTC

[ellendune]

There is a new Reading Station Newsletter on Network Rail's site

http://www.networkrail.co.uk/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=30064781722

[ellendune]

More photos on:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showpost.php?p=92550641&postcount=168

[ellendune]

Also an article:

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2115567_reading_station_development_reaches_crucial_phase

[SandTEngineer]

Those photographs are a bit out of date based on what I saw today....

[IndustryInsider]

Just in case anyone missed this post earlier in the thread:

I'm delighted to say I've got permission to share with you all the official time-lapse photographs of the remodelling which are absolutely fantastic.  Updated every 15 minutes throughout the working day you can view crystal clear sharp images from any date since the project began right up to the latest shot, or view all images in a time-lapse style which will no doubt feature on the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) website in time.

There's a total of nine cameras based on three main worksites.  Go to www.lobstervision.tv and enter one of the following in the 'username' and 'password' box:

For the new northern entrance and transfer deck:  nrreading01
For the new western gateline by the Three Guineas: nrreading02
For the new maintenance depot and associated buildings:  nrreading03

Navigation to the individual cameras and still image or time-lapse options is on the page that will be displayed.  Up-to-the minute pictures for all of us.  Brilliant stuff!

[SandTEngineer]

Here is a photograph of the Platform No.6 works taken at 1415 today 21 June 2012:

[pbc2520]

Just in case anyone missed this post earlier in the thread:

I'm delighted to say I've got permission to share with you all the official time-lapse photographs of the remodelling which are absolutely fantastic.  Updated every 15 minutes throughout the working day you can view crystal clear sharp images from any date since the project began right up to the latest shot, or view all images in a time-lapse style which will no doubt feature on the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) website in time.

There's a total of nine cameras based on three main worksites.  Go to www.lobstervision.tv and enter one of the following in the 'username' and 'password' box:

For the new northern entrance and transfer deck:  nrreading01
For the new western gateline by the Three Guineas: nrreading02
For the new maintenance depot and associated buildings:  nrreading03

Navigation to the individual cameras and still image or time-lapse options is on the page that will be displayed.  Up-to-the minute pictures for all of us.  Brilliant stuff!

And there's now nrreading04 for some views inside and outside the new shed!

[BerkshireBugsy]

Come on fellow FGW^▸ (First Great Western)'ers...you are missing the major improvement to Reading station over the last 7 days...

New washers/hand dryers in the gents on the main concourse!

(Sorry Ladies, you will just have to take my word for this!)

[Surrey 455]

New washers/hand dryers in the gents on the main concourse!

They must have been put in on Mon/Tues as most of the previous ones were out of order on Sunday.

[IndustryInsider]

And there's now nrreading04 for some views inside and outside the new shed!

Well spotted, sir! 

[Oxman]

I noticed this morning that the automatic ticket gates were out of action whilst "enhancement" work takes place. It seems that the manual wide gates are being replaced with automatic versions. Passengers were being funnelled through a few gates where cursory manual checks were being made.

This will no doubt allow a further reduction in staffing levels. A few years ago the gates were well staffed with a permanent supervisor, who also monitored use of the lifts between the platforms and the unprotected side of the footbridge. In recent years, there has been little or no supervision and ticket checking on the manual gates is cursory at best.

I guess that usage of this gateline will decrease dramatically when the new entrances open.

[BerkshireBugsy]

I noticed this morning that the automatic ticket gates were out of action whilst "enhancement" work takes place. It seems that the manual wide gates are being replaced with automatic versions. Passengers were being funnelled through a few gates where cursory manual checks were being made.

I think the word "cursory" is key here and I noted you repeated it again later in your post. In my experience there are certain gateline operatives who do the checks more thoroughly than others. I often get the feeling I could wave last weeks ticket at them and still be allowed through.