Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[Jason]

There was already some blockwork on the foundations of P7 by this morning, right under the transfer deck.

[paul7575]

There was already some blockwork on the foundations of P7 by this morning, right under the transfer deck.

I think they might progress quite quickly now.  Looks like as we discussed earlier, once the foundation strips are in they'll be able to utilise a few hours of overnight line closures of the P7 route to progress the work right alongside the track. 

Then this weekend appears to be the last with P7 and P8 closed both Sat and Sun, (possibly for the up Westbury line to be altered I reckon) for future weekends it appears to be Sunday closures only.

Paul 

[Jason]

There were signs up yesterday on P8 stating that stopping services will be switching to the other end of the platform as of next Monday until approximately the end of November.

Lots more blockwork on P7 too and some hefty excavations for the new canopy.

The new canopy on P1/2 is operating under it's own power now. Will there be some kind of cover over the ends of P1/2 ? The slightly higher section closer to the station buildings has what look like connector holes that would bridge over to P7 when that is completed.

J.

[stuving]

The new canopy on P1/2 is operating under it's own power now. Will there be some kind of cover over the ends of P1/2 ? The slightly higher section closer to the station buildings has what look like connector holes that would bridge over to P7 when that is completed.
J.

Yes. There is to be a polybag skylight surrounded by a canopy that slopes down gently all round (matching the curve in the support rail where it joins the P1/2 canopy). However, the plans (for RBC^‡(resolve) planning) are a bit contradictory, as elsewhere this higher section is at the same height as P7 canopy - and all linear canopies slope upwards, anyway. A recent artist's impression ought to show the 3D form better than those projections that appear to come from different design versions.

PS: On looking again, if there is a slope all round it's upwards - even where the support rail slopes down ... so it's still, clearly, unclear what shape it is.

[paul7575]

It's significantly different to what was shown in the (RBC^‡(resolve) planning) overhead views of the whole station.   The main change is that the P1/2 roof originally came to a stop at the buffer end, a bit like the roofs on P4/5/6 and was then going to be overlapped by a 'main roof' at a slightly higher level, which included the ETFE skylight. 

Now the P1/2 roof is continuous with a rising section and then it abuts the transfer deck.

The original main roof behind the buffers extended further south towards the boundary wall, completely covering that REB container.   I'd anticipate now that the P3/7 roof will be at the higher level all the way along, and also continue up to the transfer deck as well.  That would then leave a gap to be bridged with a section including a slightly narrower ETFE skylight than in the original?

As a picture is worth a thousand words I've tried to explain what I mean with an original design extract and a very poor quality cut and paste piece of guesswork attached below.  No complaints please if it ends up completely different...

Paul

[stuving]

Having realised some drawings were out of date, I had a look at the top of the canopy this afternoon. The picture shows the raised P1/2 canopy is slightly narrower, and has provision to bolt something onto the edge. Presumably this is the skylight frame, and its other side rests on the edge of the P3/7 canopy, which has to be the same height.

The elevation drawing is presumably right, as it looks like as built. There would not be room for much canopy past the end of the skylight, and there is no sign of mountings for a supporting spar, so presumably there will just be the end of the frame.

[paul7575]

All in all they've made it a much simpler construction than that shown in the original design (my first drawing extract).  Agree there seems to be not much space at either end of the ETFE skylight section, looks to be only a couple of metres at each end.

Odd that there's been no obvious planning application for it, (the one for the re-work of the southern entrance, that replaced the lift with those ramps etc shows the revised elevation), but there's no written background for the change AFAICS^▸ (As Far As I Can See).  Would such an alteration be considered only minor, in comparison to the whole project?

Paul

[lbraine]

Does the new canopy design on P1/2 offer the possibility to lengthen P1 to finish close to the transfer deck.

[Thatcham Crossing]

Good question. In fact, what's the maximum train length that can currently be accomodated in P1/2?

Once we have EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit)'s on Newbury/Basingstoke local services (and Bedwyn, if the wires end up going that far), I understand these will be at least 4-coach units. I'm assuming these can be accomodated as things stand, but probably not if doubled-up.

[IndustryInsider]

Good question. In fact, what's the maximum train length that can currently be accomodated in P1/2?

5-cars.

[paul7575]

Does the new canopy design on P1/2 offer the possibility to lengthen P1 to finish close to the transfer deck.

The very latest standards apparently require something like 20m of free area beyond the buffer stops of a bay platform, so I don't think bringing the buffer stops east is a possibility.  

(I can't exactly remember where I read it, but station alterations at Newcastle Central have just been changeed because there was insufficient distance between a set of buffers and a proposed platform building.

P3 was only just long enough for a 5 x 23 m Voyager before the works started, it would be unlikely to be reduced from this, and the plans show the three bay platforms the same length on completion.

So with any possible extension having to be beyond the various points and over Caversham Rd bridge, operating more than one 4 car EMU^▸ (Electric Multiple Unit) from any of the bays is out of the question.

Paul

[Thatcham Crossing]

Thanks, that confirms what I had worked out in my own mind, ie, that here is no room to extend those platforms further west.

[stuving]

The very latest standards apparently require something like 20m of free area beyond the buffer stops of a bay platform, so I don't think bringing the buffer stops east is a possibility.  

It's in GI/RT 7016:

6.3 Location of structures at terminal stations
6.3.1 Location of permanent new structures in relation to terminal tracks
6.3.1.1 Permanent new structures, including buildings and columns supporting canopies
shall not be located within a zone extending 20 m behind the face of the buffer
stop and 5 m either side of the projected centre line of the track approaching the
buffer stop. This is referred to in sub-sections 6.3.2 and 6.3.3 as the ^overrun risk
zone^.
6.3.2 Alterations to existing structures or track layouts
6.3.2.1 Alterations to an existing structure or track layout shall not:
a) Cause a structure that is outside the overrun risk zone to come within the
overrun risk zone (see sub-section 6.3.1).
b) Cause a structure which is within the overrun risk zone to become closer to
the centre line of the track and/or closer to the face of the buffer stop.
6.3.3 Location of temporary structures at terminal stations
6.3.3.1 Temporary structures shall be located outside the overrun risk zone (see subsection
6.3.1).

However, GI/GN 7616 provides some wiggle room:

GN74 The requirements of 6.3 of GI/RT7016 are intended to manage the risk from trains overrunning a buffer stop.
GN75 When carrying out modifications affecting the overrun risk zone (for example to improve access or facilities) the constraints of the station might mean that it is not feasible to meet the requirements of 6.3 of GI/RT7016.

... and gives advice and references for conducting a risk analysis.

Note that the 20 m runs from the buffer stop itself, so it includes the slide path behind the buffer stop.

[ellendune]

Crane is in action again tonight Camera 2/02.  Will this be the roof sections on the London end of the canopy for P10/11?

[ellendune]

Crane is in action again tonight Camera 2/02.  Will this be the roof sections on the London end of the canopy for P10/11?

No apparently not they are still in the stack by the North entrance this morning.  Have to wait to see what has appeared on P10/11 this morning.