Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[mjones]

On a different point, several times now I've been waiting for a Didcot bound train at P9 and seen it waiting for a signal outside the station, even though the platform was empty and I couldn't see any conflicting movements on that side of the station that would have prevented it coming into the platform. This has often resulted in trains arriving a few minutes late, having been waiting outside the station for several minutes. What reasons might there be for this?

Could it be caused by what is happening (or not yet happening) in P8, eg if a route is set from P8 onto the down main via the crossovers at the country end it might be in the overlap of the P9 platform starter?  Likewise a reversing XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) might be heading up from the Westbury route into P10 or something. 

I'll await the expert's comments with interest, but I think that might be something like it...

Paul

Very likely- there were XC movements to the west of the station when I've seen this happen, but why should this prevent a train from the east entering and stopping at P9, as there is a signal preventing it from leaving again until the line is clear? Seems an inefficient use of the new platform capacity.

[IndustryInsider]

I agree with the probably reasons, and you have to bear in mind that the west end layout is temporary.  XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) (and other services from Southcote Junction) will not be using that route in the final layout, and the temporary 25mph crossover from P8 to the Down Main is just that, with the final layout giving a much greater distance from the signals to the next set of points, which should be well outside any overlaps.

Very likely- there were XC movements to the west of the station when I've seen this happen, but why should this prevent a train from the east entering and stopping at P9, as there is a signal preventing it from leaving again until the line is clear? Seems an inefficient use of the new platform capacity.

Each signal has an overlap which will prevent the previous signal from being cleared if there is a conflicting move.  In the case of P8 and P9 the signals are quite close to the junction that an incoming XC would use to get to P10, so, as Paul stated, it is likely that the previous signal can't be cleared until the XC service has arrived at P10.  It's basically a safety back-up, (admittedly less important thanks to TPWS^▸ (Train Protection and Warning System)), which could potentially avoid a collision should a train be involved in a SPAD^▸ (Signal Passed At Danger).

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks, as ever, for your ... err, inside information, IndustryInsider. 

[Oxman]

Visited the station  today. All of the escalators have been stopped, apparently for safety reasons.

I was told that a six inch piece of metal was ejected by one of them this morning and made its way at high speed across the circulating area. Fortunately, no one was injured.

I was told that there had been an issue during commissioning that affected all of the escalators, but this was thought to have been rectified. Apparently the problem has returned. Clearly bits of flying metal are not good for safety, so they were all switched off as a precaution.

Kone engineers were taking one apart, overseen by a very worried looking man in a suit!

[paul7575]

Took a mobile shot of the P11 progress this lunchtime, give it a few days and I think the last section of the platform walling should be complete.

Paul

[devon_metro]

Visited the station  today. All of the escalators have been stopped, apparently for safety reasons.

I was told that a six inch piece of metal was ejected by one of them this morning and made its way at high speed across the circulating area. Fortunately, no one was injured.

I was told that there had been an issue during commissioning that affected all of the escalators, but this was thought to have been rectified. Apparently the problem has returned. Clearly bits of flying metal are not good for safety, so they were all switched off as a precaution.

Kone engineers were taking one apart, overseen by a very worried looking man in a suit!

I did read somewhere that the escalators installed at Reading were considered to be "cheap". Apparently they were correct!

[stuving]

Took a mobile shot of the P11 progress this lunchtime, give it a few days and I think the last section of the platform walling should be complete.

It looks to me as if the far London end of P11, past the gantry, is not being built yet - maybe there is a signal in the way?

[paul7575]

I thought the London end (of the wall) is already done beyond the gantry, it's visible from that end of P10.  From what I've seen on various drawings I think that's it.  The P11 starter signal is on the gantry but bagged over, which suggests the last few yards of platform are not for operational use for up direction trains.

This picture shows the signal I mean, the up starter for P9 is on the right, and I'd put a few quid on the P10 equivalent being added to the gantry (or the supporting leg) in due course:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wirewiping/8727787691/in/pool-1945836@N21/

Paul

[CheekyPaul]

Have the cameras been taken out of use?

http://www.lobstervision.tv/nrreading04

[paul7575]

Looks like number 4 has problems, however various views have gone and re-appeared before. 

Cams 1 and 2 are OK, and cam 3 is still live, but never showed much anyway.

I wonder if they considered that the depot and approach track work had reached a stage where there'd be very little change?

Paul

[Oxman]

Given that the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") now goes through the servicing shed, perhaps they decided to remove the cameras before they "got in the way".

[paul7575]

Given that the OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") now goes through the servicing shed, perhaps they decided to remove the cameras before they "got in the way".

Seems highly relevant doesn't it. The two external cameras were high up as well, so even if not physically obstructing things, I suppose an isolation would be needed just to work at height removing them.

Paul

[Oxman]

Also talked to someone who told me that the 7 minute standard connection time was proving problematical. It was taking much longer to get, say, a passenger in a wheelchair from one side of the station to the other. In fairness, 7 minutes was quite tight for some connections in the old station. I was told that connections are regularly being missed and that this was a particular issue with assisted travel.

Apparently, the decision has been taken not to increase the standard connection time, so connections may well be an ongoing issue. I can understand the reluctance to do this - it would mean that many journey times would be increased, possibly by up to an hour. Not commercially desirable.

But does it make sense to have passengers running around the station in order to make such tight connections?

Two other points: everything was on time today! Noticable that trains from Padd were arriving a full two minutes before they were due to depart - makes a huge difference to timekeeping. Maybe Reading remodelling is starting to work? And, noticed some electrification masts on the Reading West curve - I am beginning to believe it will really happen!

[paul7575]

Noticed an intriguing part of the new signalling installation in the area of the new junctions east of the station, alongside the end of P6.

What they have done is wired up axle counters mounted on short sections of rail - I'm assuming to provide the correct indications in some part of the signalling system before the tracks are actually installed?

Perhaps one of the S&T^▸ (Signalling and Telegraph) experts could confirm this, as I was wondering why they wouldn't just make the necessary temporary changes in a junction box or cabinet somewhere.  Alternatively does it mean that future testing can be shortened as the axle counters are already 'working'?

[ellendune]

On the western approach to P15 there is a large black board mounted on what seems to be a OLE^▸ (Overhead Line Equipment, more often "OHLE") mast.  What is it?

OLE = Overhead line equipment