Changing the subject slightly, but just to clear up a couple of points that we've discussed in the past which have now become clearer:
1)
Method of working for Platforms 12-15They all have 'Closing In' signals at either end of the platform and are split into an 'A' and 'B' end. Trains of up to 5 carriages in length that are terminating and heading back out in the same direction will stop at a 'Rear Clear' stop board located approximately mid-way along the platform in either direction ('A' end is London, 'B' end is the Country End). That will then allow the signaller to route another train (again of up to 5 carriages) into the other part of the platform using permissive working arrangements at the Closing In signal (i.e. a red aspect with two white lights).
Trains of more than 5 carriages will stop at the relevant stop car marker further down the platform, as will through trains of
any length. Regarding concerns over canopy lengths, the canopies are long enough to shelter a train of roughly 6 carriages long, but any train that has stopped at the Rear Clear marker at the 'A' end of the Platform will have most of its length out in the open.
2)
Cross Country trainsWe've covered the lack of flexibility for through Cross Country services in the past and apparently it's also a concern for
NR» and
XC▸ . As we suspected, their through reversing services will generally use Platform 8, though they could also use Platforms 9 or 10. Should a problem develop with the critical set of points at Westbury Line junction (or indeed the route on the Up/Down Main to or from those platforms) then that will leave no simple option, but there are still three options available to the signaller to keep those trains running.
- A train could use platforms 12/13/14 or 15 and be sent out of the east end of the station into what is now Kennet Bridge Goods Loop. That loop is being upgraded to passenger status, so, for example, a train from Manchester to Bournemouth could be routed into Platform 14 at Reading, depart from there and be signalled into Kennet Bridge Loop, before reversing and then being routed through Reading's Platform 7 and on towards Basingstoke.
- As above a train could be signalled into 12-15 and then be sent back to Tilehurst station's new reversing signal before being sent via the West Curve through to Oxford Road Junction
- As has happened in the past, trains could just miss out on the stop at Reading and be routed via the West Curve stopping at Reading West.
If anyone has any other questions, now is the time to ask!
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