Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[eightf48544]

Just discovered 1708CA is Co-acting signal in the 6' which apprently have the red aspect at the top.

With two signals it would be an very incompetant driver who SPADed them.

[Network SouthEast]

With two signals it would be an very incompetant driver who SPADed them.

No train driver deliberately sets out to have a SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger). 

[IndustryInsider]

Just discovered 1708CA is Co-acting signal in the 6' which apprently have the red aspect at the top.

With two signals it would be an very incompetant driver who SPADed them.

T1708 has a co-acting signal due to the restricted view of the main aspect when departing from the sidings on the left hand side of the depot exit.  Though the SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger) risk I referred to is receiving a single yellow aspect and platform number at T1708 and then SPAD'ing the following closing up signals T1702/4/6.

[paul7575]

Looking through some signalling bumph I've just found I think a similar set up of a theatre indicator on a signal (indicating the platform number) followed by a set of four 'closing up signals', one at the entry to each platform, is in use on the way into Portsmouth Harbour.  In this case the only approach is from the down main line rather than the depot exit, but the theatre indicator coming just before the platform signal seems to be the same...

Paul 

[EBrown]

Does anyone know if the Vastern Road/Post Office site has been victim of crime recently. I notice that (on camera 1/3) that the police CCTV^▸ (Closed Circuit Tele Vision) van is parked there most of the time.

I originally thought it was just being used as a parking space, but it hasn't moved from that one space in about a week (as far as I can tell).

[paul7575]

I see the big mobile crane has been use again today, (with an extension jib), positioning a few roof sections adjacent to the London side escalators on the P10/11 island this time. 

Just to round up the activities last week, (presumably, and as discussed earlier, due to crane load limits), as far as I can see all the escalators are now in position.  There's a couple of short sections of main steelwork yet to be fitted next to the stair/escalator on the country side of the P14/15 island, but other than that I think there's every likelihood that the bulk of the sloping roof sections will be fitted this week.

I'd also suggest that on P10/11 the rest of the London end roof (and platform buildings) will probably be delayed until some time later because the building's 'footprint' involves the wider waiting area at the foot of the existing stairs?

Meanwhile, at the south end of the subway I'm quite surprised the portable buildings are still there, as they really need to start on the Reading Council area of the worksite soon - unless the initial route for subway users really is going to require a diversion to the west end of the access ramps and stairs?

Paul

[ellendune]

I see the big mobile crane has been use again today, (with an extension jib), positioning a few roof sections adjacent to the London side escalators on the P10/11 island this time. 

Just to round up the activities last week, (presumably, and as discussed earlier, due to crane load limits), as far as I can see all the escalators are now in position.  There's a couple of short sections of main steelwork yet to be fitted next to the stair/escalator on the country side of the P14/15 island, but other than that I think there's every likelihood that the bulk of the sloping roof sections will be fitted this week.

This crane only appears to be used to lift heavy objects that are at the furthest reach of the tower crane.  All the other roof sections have been lifted in with the tower crane on the country side were lifted in with the tower crane except those which were so close to the foot of the tower it presumably could not reach.

On the London side the big crane last weekend did the lower sections of the roof after the escalators were lifted in. However the rest of the P12/13 roof sections were then lifted in during the week with the tower crane. 

For the escalators the load was obviously an issue as the P14/15 escalators were lifted in with the big crane in as whole units, then the P12/13 were lifted in with the same crane but in three parts.  Alternative means had to be used to install the escalators on P10/11 as even the big crane could not lift that much at such a reach.

I'd also suggest that on P10/11 the rest of the London end roof (and platform buildings) will probably be delayed until some time later because the building's 'footprint' involves the wider waiting area at the foot of the existing stairs?

Looks very likely

Meanwhile, at the south end of the subway I'm quite surprised the portable buildings are still there, as they really need to start on the Reading Council area of the worksite soon - unless the initial route for subway users really is going to require a diversion to the west end of the access ramps and stairs?

Given that they only have 2 weeks left before the subway is due to be opened I have assumed they will divert people round to the west end of the ramp/stairs.

[paul7575]

For the escalators the load was obviously an issue as the P14/15 escalators were lifted in with the big crane in as whole units, then the P12/13 were lifted in with the same crane but in three parts.  Alternative means had to be used to install the escalators on P10/11 as even the big crane could not lift that much at such a reach.

Er... this is a repeat!  You and I covered this topic last weekend as well...

Paul

[ellendune]

The tower crane is lifting the other roof sections for the London end escalators as I write.

[paul7575]

The tower crane is lifting the other roof sections for the London end escalators as I write.

Just a thought, once all these roof sections go on there'll not be much to see at all!   

I always thought it was a bit of a shame that they didn't have a view of the track work at either end of the station area...

Paul

[lbraine]

Just gone up at TLH, on the same poster outlining the Easter works at Reading:

The footbridge at Tilehurst is going to be renewed while the line is closed.

Anyone have any details or even knowledge of the plan.

[lbraine]

Found a small amount of detail on Planning Consent website of Reading Council.

The work will be to replace the existing footbridge.

I did wonder if it was going to be moved to the London end as over the last few weeks there has been a drilling machine just alongside P1 and current mid island P2/3 at London end.

But the planning consent was for replacement of existing footbridge.

[IndustryInsider]

I did wonder if it was going to be moved to the London end as over the last few weeks there has been a drilling machine just alongside P1 and current mid island P2/3 at London end.

Possibly foundations for a temporary footbridge whilst the permanent one is replaced?  That's what often happens - for example Radley, Iver and Bicester North have had similar temporary structures in recent years.

[paul7575]

Remember the point made earlier about a 'marshalled walking route' to the north side subway entrance - ie to get across the building site from the end of February?  They seem to have cleared a space parallel to the front of the northern station building as far as the right hand side of the subway entrance over the last few days, and then installed new taller support posts presumably for another line of hoardings.

On P14/15 the remaining heavy duty steel work has been installed between the stairs and the country end platform roof, AFAICT^▸ (as far as I can tell) that is the last section that prevented the sloping roof sections being fitted there.

Paul

[paul7575]

Meanwhile, at the south end of the subway I'm quite surprised the portable buildings are still there, as they really need to start on the Reading Council area of the worksite soon - unless the initial route for subway users really is going to require a diversion to the west end of the access ramps and stairs?

Given that they only have 2 weeks left before the subway is due to be opened I have assumed they will divert people round to the west end of the ramp/stairs.

Posts suitable for a hoardings are now being put in parallel to, and alongside the southern ramp structure, that look as if they will hide the elevated road structure, so now looks very much like the route will include the double back via the west end.  There are also some newly repositioned posts alongside the blue portakabins - perhaps they will also be something to do with the intended pedestrian route?  What I'm thinking here is that having come up the ramps/stairs and over the subway, pedestrians will then have to turn immediately sharp right and go over towards the south side of Station Hill - in other words to cut across the worksite with barriers both right and left?

Paul