Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

Noticed that some of the hoardings are being removed opposite the main (old) station entrance. The vehicle entrance to the portakabin offices to be specific.  Might this be a sign that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff are relocating into their new offices at the northern entrance?

Paul

[swrural]

Does it not mean also a much longer hike for the majority of pax?

[paul7575]

Does it not mean also a much longer hike for the majority of pax?

Not sure what you are getting at here...

Edited.

Have now realised you are referring to my post #1708 yesterday rather than post #1710 today...

Well yes it is further from P14, to P3 or P7.  However that assumes a 'majority' of pax off XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) are changing to those routes you mention, but what if they are wanting stoppers towards Ealing Broadway, or the exit towards Caversham?  I don't think it's as black and white as you suggest.

In any case surely it wasn't a lot different prior to the rebuild starting, when most XC Newcastle/Reading terminating trains sat in the old P7.  Is it really the case that platforming is designed around connections, or is it designed around removing pathing conflicts in the approaches?  Perhaps neither takes priority, I don't know really.

Paul

[swrural]

I wrote 'pax' not 'staff'. 

I meant that the majority of alighting pax don't want to go to platform 14.  They want to go to Newbury or Sunningdale (or The Butts in Reading even    ).

So either the exit or connecting platforms are a long way away.  (If my contention about where people want to go is incorrect, of course my argument falls down - I just thought a southern platform would be more convenient for most pax).

Who cares how far the staff have to walk?   

[ellendune]

Noticed that some of the hoardings are being removed opposite the main (old) station entrance. The vehicle entrance to the portakabin offices to be specific.  Might this be a sign that FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff are relocating into their new offices at the northern entrance?

Looks to me more like the blue site offices are being moved that the grey ones.  The blue ones are those that are in the way of Reading BC works on the steps.

[paul7575]

Deleted. Confused by crossed posts earlier.

Paul

[Jonty]

Sounds like SWRural has himself taken a slight passenger detour into the 3 G's...

[swrural]

Sounds like SWRural has himself taken a slight passenger detour into the 3 G's...

Don't get it.  Perhaps tell me via pm, realise I can be thick, perhaps to do with that deleted post?

Many thanks Jonty.

[Jonty]

Hi SWRural - sorry, like Paul I thought your comment about the pax having to take a longer  route round was in response to his posting about the temporary buildings being removed outside the 3 G's...

Whereas you were responding to an earlier posting about where trains were being platformed.

[lbraine]

Topic : Platform levels.

Standing at Reading yesterday I was struck by the variations in platform levels - I presume there are 'Standards' that need to be applied - and Law (Disability Access etc.)

All the new platforms are look 6 to 8 inches higher that the old platforms.
P10 is lower than P11, and you descend a (temporary?) ramp to descend to the P10 level.

P8 and P9 are lower than the new platforms - although they look level with the bottom of the escalators - which seems odd if they are to be raised to Standard height.

And finally, P7 is lower - perhaps it will be built to new height when pushed outwards - but the 'flow' into the other spaces - including the new Southern Entrance - would require a ramp down !

[paul7575]

All the new platforms are look 6 to 8 inches higher that the old platforms.
P10 is lower than P11, and you descend a (temporary?) ramp to descend to the P10 level.

P10 is a portable, pre-fabricated and temporary surface, unchanged from when it was first fitted prior to the demolition starting.  So of course the ramps are temporary - if you look beyond the present country end barrier you can see that there is a part built platform face that is already higher than the temporary level.

In the case of the other original through platforms I'd be tempted to wait and see how they end up.  P8/9 for instance is possibly wide enough to have slight rising gradients towards the platform edge.  P7 might end up with the track lowered once on its new alignment, as the current P7 track is probably canted slightly to reflect that it was the down main?

Paul

[stuving]

Topic : Platform levels.
All the new platforms are look 6 to 8 inches higher that the old platforms.

There are some cross-sections in the last set of planning documents (12/00577/FUL) that show, at a rather small scale, that platforms 10-15 are all level with each other and with "South grade". Platforms 7-9 are shown at the same level just at the Western edge of the transfer deck, but lower to both sides, unevenly. The track follows its platform. My inference is that the new platforms and 10/11, (which is being substantially rebuilt) are being built level, while the others are just being adjusted for cross-level but not for along-track profile. there is also a new platform standard height in GI/GN7616 (i.e. for new platforms, not a new height) of 915 mm + 0 / - 25 mm, so presumably the tracks will be relaid to meet that.

[basset44]

Hi All,

I do hope this is not a sign of things to come at Reading

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22294831


Basset

[bobm]

Could I just ask at this point if you do post a link from a newspaper or other source you quote at least part of the article or explain the context of it?  Firstly it makes the flow of the thread easier to follow and secondly external links die - at which point the meaning of your post is lost.  I realise it is not always possible to quote if you are posting from a handheld device but where possible please try.

In that vain, here is the article referenced above.

Newport's railway station was revamped in time for the 2010 Ryder Cup

A railway station's futuristic roof is being repaired for leaks less than three years after it opened following a ^22m revamp.

Newport's new station opened in September 2010 ahead of the Ryder Cup golf tournament at nearby Celtic Manor.

But this month passengers reported dodging puddles on walkways.

Network Rail said "interface issues" with the roof's construction material were being addressed and contractors said two leaks were remaining.

The new roof is comprised of 31 air-filled cushions, made from the polymer ethylene tetrafluoroethylene, which give a "bubble-wrap" effect.

The cushions are created using two layers of film measuring around two to three strands of hair in thickness.

The panels for the Eden Project in Cornwall are also made of the material.

Councillor Matthew Evans who was the leader of Newport council when the station revamp was unveiled has described the leaks as "embarrassing".

Mr Evans said: "You will have snagging problems with any new building but when you've still got problems three years later it doesn't exactly fill you with confidence.

"I don't have anything against the design - I called it thought-provoking at the time - but it needs to be practical.

"The roof has had problems for some considerable time. It is embarrassing."

'Materials used'
 
When it was unveiled, Network Rail called it a distinctive station "that is cost-effective to build and maintain, eco-friendly and fit for the 21st Century and beyond".

A Network Rail spokesman said: "We still have verification works to complete before we are happy that the roof is leak free.

"The station represented a ^20m investment when it was redeveloped in 2009.

"The station reopened in time for the 2010 Ryder Cup golf competition in Wales.

"Since then, we became aware of interface issues between some of the materials used in its construction.

"We agreed a remediation plan with our contractor and we are delighted that the works are now complete."

A spokesman for contractors Galliford Try said: "We have rectified the readily accessible leaks identified in the roof with the exception of two which require possession of the line.

"We will attend to these at the first opportunity."

Arriva Trains Wales said the matter was an issue for Network Rail and its contractor.

A spokeswoman added: "We're keen to resolve any issues as soon as possible for the benefit of our passengers."

Ironically the 2010 Ryder Cup was badly affected by rain on the first and third days and ended up going on until Monday evening....

[bobm]

There is a short atricle in the new issue of RAIL magazine (721) regarding the failed Turbo train at Goring on the 2nd April which helped to add to the grief when the station re-opened after the Easter blockade.

According to FGW^▸ (First Great Western) the unit hit some ballast which had been laid too high after engineering work and this ripped off part of the braking control system which caused the unit to come to a stand with the brakes locked on.