Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[stuving]

The street-lamp fairy, with cherry picker, came and ...

But missed the middle one, which will presumably be a double.

This post is pre-drilled for two luminaires, but the lower one looks as if it would have a bit of a negative clearance problem with one of the old luminaires if fitted. That presumably explains why it was left off for now.

These luminaries are, as you would expect, full of loads of LEDs. It could be that there's a policy in force (not sure whose) that all new street luminaires must be LED ones, which applies to these.

[Red Squirrel]

These luminaries are, as you would expect, full of loads of LEDs.

Easy mistake to make, but thanks - it made I larf. I wouldn't wish being filled full of led on even a C-list luminary.

[SandTEngineer]

The poster concerning Platform No.7 can be found here: http://firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/contents/ReadingImprovementWorks/platform-7-poster-v3.ashx

[ironstone11]

The poster concerning Platform No.7 can be found here: http://firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/contents/ReadingImprovementWorks/platform-7-poster-v3.ashx

Summarises it quite well.

They will have to crack on to get it finished by the end of the year. As discussed earlier, the initial work will have to be done during night time possesions.

BTW^▸ (by the way) there are some Flickr pictures of the weekend work. One shows a track panel being craned in, presumably from Caversham Road. http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalmck/9904590674/in/pool-1945836@N21

[ironstone11]

It could be that there's a policy in force (not sure whose) that all new street luminaires must be LED ones, which applies to these.

I don't know, but some councils are adopting LEDs for renewals. Longer life, lower energy and WHITE!

[stuving]

The poster concerning Platform No.7 can be found here: http://firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/PDF/contents/ReadingImprovementWorks/platform-7-poster-v3.ashx

Thanks for finding that - I did look, but the links to it are less than obvious (it's under "upcoming works at Reading station", though the temporary platform has now finished upcoming).

Reading it properly it is a lot clearer than my recollection, which was hindered by having to read it through a stream of passengers. I'm not sure why it was put up in such awkward places. But it is a surprisingly detailed explanation, compared with most - better than most of the last Reading Station news.

[stuving]

I see (on camera 02/2) that there's a load of activity in the front forecourt compound just now, as during each night since about Thursday. There's also a bright floodlight shining straight at the camera, so you can't see into the entrance. The styrocauseway was being used as well, which would make sense to supply work on P8/9.

[paul7575]

Just looking at RealTimeTrains there seems to have been a subtle change to platforming of down direction HST^▸ (High Speed Train) operated services, eg to Bristol and South Wales.   AFAICT^▸ (as far as I can tell) there are now none booked through P8.  Last week many Bristol and South Wales HSTs used P8.  If this is actually the case in practice, (because platforming can change at the last minute), is this an indication that P8's 'operational length' has now been reduced as originally proposed in the Engineering Access Statement?

I remember it being explicitly mentioned in the EAS a couple of editions back, but there's nothing in the current online version.

By the way, the P8 edge coping replacement was almost at the half way point by Monday, although the platform was still in normal use by HSTs at that time.

Paul

[IndustryInsider]

I'm pretty sure P8's length was reduced temporarily to 6-car Turbo length at the same time the temporary P7 opened.  HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s can still stop there, but won't do so unless problems with P9 force it to be used.

[paul7575]

I'm pretty sure P8's length was reduced temporarily to 6-car Turbo length at the same time the temporary P7 opened.  HST^▸ (High Speed Train)'s can still stop there, but won't do so unless problems with P9 force it to be used.

That would probably explain why they won't have advertised it on any public posters then, as there shouldn't normally be any effect on passengers until such time as they depart from booked workings.  I'd assume passengers on those services will have become used to going from either P8 or P9 pretty much at random over recent months, so they may actually see standardisation on P9 as an improvement anyway...

Paul

[Tim K]

I was on a HST^▸ (High Speed Train) on Monday night that had to stop at platform 8, we were told that the rear two coaches would not be opening and that anyone in those carriages who wanted to alight at Reading needed to move forwards. 

[stuving]

I see the concrete pump is is use again this morning - and a mixer truck has just arrived. Presumably that's for the last 15 m or so of foundation on P10 that was not done last week (pic from Saturday).

Looking at the long string of detached pipe sections, I was trying to imagine how the discharge point was moved. It is more usual to have an articulated pipe going up and then down, but this straight one can't do that. Do they really start with it full length, and hastily unbolt a section at a time as the trench fills? If so, how do they clean the concrete out of each section (they look pretty clean)?

[paul7575]

I wonder if they use a flexible section on the end to allow for more accurate placement of the concrete, (like you see on the lorry mounted equipment), and then reposition it as they reduce the length a few sections at a time.  Seems to me what would be left in the individual pipe sections could just be dropped into the trench, something pushed through on a pole would deal with what little remained inside the pipe.  Then what we might not see is a gang of men cleaning the short sections as they are removed using manual means, that could even be done somewhere else, and what we've seen between times is after they've returned the sections to the worksite.  Earlier in the week the sections of pipe were all lying along the footings, but were not yet joined together.

On Monday afternoon they were extending the footings trench at the London end, perhaps they'll pour some concrete there as well?

By the way, did you notice that the 'I girder' piling we discussed now extends over almost the full length of the gap?

PS, as at 1620, there have been a fair number of concrete mixers arrive and depart over the course of the afternoon, will be interesting to hear how much has been done...

Paul

[ironstone11]

Surprised to see a dumper being driven in through double doors of new southern entrance. Presumably to access P7. Cams 02/1 and 02/2 at 22:45 today.

[paul7575]

The main run of the P10 platform wall footing strip is now complete, with another section of blockwork started towards the middle of the London end of the platform.  The 'transom end' strip at the easternmost point had also been poured. 

The webcam shows the pipe sections being craned onto a truck mid afternoon, 1415 or so...

Paul