Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[stuving]

Regarding the drainage, I think the bottom of the steps will still be higher than the bottom end of Greyfriars Road, so presumably it will drain in that westerly direction...?

In the interminable time that RBC^‡(resolve) spent in preparing the dug-out Station Hill area, they appeared to put a good number of chunky looking drains in...

Is that a big enough drain?

Now, what was that about drains having to run downhill all the way?

[OK, I know that in reality it's probably an unfinished chamber that's filled with rainwater, and possibly nothing to do with the drains, but ...]

[ellendune]

Went through Reading on Thursday.  Did not see much evidence of much progress since Christmas.  Is it all gooing on in the background at the moment?

[Electric train]

Went through Reading on Thursday.  Did not see much evidence of much progress since Christmas.  Is it all gooing on in the background at the moment?

If the staff worked over Christmas it might be they are having time off

[stuving]

Went through Reading on Thursday.  Did not see much evidence of much progress since Christmas.  Is it all gooing on in the background at the moment?

Yes, in the sense that a lot is going on behind barriers on P8/9, P10/11, and P7, and work by the tracks has to be done at weekends and nights. A couple of examples in the pictures:

The scaffolding for P7 canopy is still growing, out of hours, into something quite monumental. It does look as if they are boarding vertically between the steps so as to be able to work with the platform open, though there are still some chinks of light visible.

P7 itself has grown a bit, with a foundation trench dug and concreted - maybe last weekend? - and blocks laid. There's no visible concrete plant, so I don't know how that was supplied.

And with no picture, P10 rebuild is continuing. Also, some ballast has been laid and graded in P10, though is as barely covers the subway more will be needed.

[paul7575]

Another couple of photos of the P7 platform work, progress of the main wall from the other direction to stuving's pic, showing that the foundation strip has reached as far as the future 'Southern' concourse area.   

Also a detail shot taken from P6 suggesting that there may be a cut out formed in the London end of the platform to get round the problem of those electrical boxes in the foreground.  Note the way the old track has been cut either side of the trench.

It's the sort of work which could progress quickly tomorrow if they have another day with P7 and P8 out of use, this is what is currently suggested by the 'realtimetrains' website.

Paul

[ellendune]

P7 itself has grown a bit, with a foundation trench dug and concreted - maybe last weekend? - and blocks laid. There's no visible concrete plant, so I don't know how that was supplied.

On past practice a temporary pipeline laid through the southern concourse would be the most likely way.  Unless you were there at the time there would be little evidence of it. 

[paul7575]

On past practice a temporary pipeline laid through the southern concourse would be the most likely way.  Unless you were there at the time there would be little evidence of it. 

Now that they've reached that far east they could also easily use the goods delivery ramp and gate alongside P4?

Paul

[stuving]

On past practice a temporary pipeline laid through the southern concourse would be the most likely way.  Unless you were there at the time there would be little evidence of it. 

I wonder. Based on previous examples, I'd expect to see the pipes left there, especially as the final bit was done after just a week. There's loads of space for stuff, an loads of stuff left in it, but there were no pipes.

One of the things that is parked on P7 is a stack of sacks of dry concrete mix. You don't suppose they've been using the same technique as my neighbour's fencing contractors last year, do you? That's (1) dig hole, (2) fill with dry concrete mix, (3) top up with water, and (4) wait about 20 minutes for it to start to go off.

[onthecushions]

To Oxford this morning from Reading, platform/track 8.

Noticed that the West end (8B) does not have platform edgings but rather mortar fillets with stanchion bases (little ones for a guard rail) set in.

Any explanation?

OTC

[paul7575]

To Oxford this morning from Reading, platform/track 8.

Noticed that the West end (8B) does not have platform edgings but rather mortar fillets with stanchion bases (little ones for a guard rail) set in.

Any explanation?

OTC

It's supposedly temporary to allow for additional clearance for any trains taking the crossover to the platform 9 line.  (Temporary as in until next year sometime, when the track layout is finalised, and that crossover moves west of Caversham Rd...)

The 'unfinished' distance is somewhat longer than before the work to raise the new platform edge started though, previously the bit with the edge copers missing was only next to WH Smith's shop.

PS - Just had a thought that the extra length might be required for vertical clearance, I was initially thinking it was excessive compared to carriage lengths, but the problem is three dimensional isn't it...   

PPS - subsequently confirmed - the track through the west end of P8 will eventually be raised to its correct level with respect to the platform.

Paul

[CCTV99]

Has anyone managed to regain access to the Lobster Vision webcams, or had any contact with NR^» (Network Rail - home page) regarding said access?

[Oxman]

I contacted NR^» (Network Rail - home page)'s community relations team. After a while, I got this reply:

"I apologise for the belated response to your query.
 
Network Rail cannot permit public access as the camera feeds are commercially sensitive. We do however issue edits every quarter on www.networkrail.co.uk/reading"

So much for its quest for "transparency"!

I will leave others to comment. Seems like a missed opportunity to me.

[TonyK]

Network Rail cannot permit public access as the camera feeds are commercially sensitive.

So they weren't before, then? Pah!

[John R]

The public have no right to see these images - if I recall correctly someone in Network Rail made the link available as a goodwill gesture to a group (ie us) interested in the project. I can fully understand why they decided to withdraw that right once someone was a bit too clever by half in criticising NR^» (Network Rail - home page) (albeit with some justification) based on the evidence in the photos.

Disappointing yes, but maybe a salutary lesson for any of us who rely a bit on the goodwill of railway staff in one way or another.

[Jason]

Did not see much evidence of much progress since Christmas.  Is it all gooing on in the background at the moment?

Pretty much, from what I've seen:
The London end of P7 is being worked on overnight(s)
The monster scaffold on the sloping section of P7 appears complete, along with aforementioned tactical drainpipe solution
The canopy at the country end of P7 is being fitted out - the lights were in but not on the other evening
A lot of blockwork on the London end of P10 has been completed
Platform buildings on P8/9 and P9/10 are still mostly framework