Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[paul7575]

I'm 99% sure that is to be the up feeder main, there's another set of points in the down relief for connection to the down feeder relief a fair distance further along, just visible in my video.

This came up in the thread a while ago, that they'd added a second crossover to allow parallel moves at that end of the feeder lines?  The two sets of points are shown (c&p) in IndustryInsider's posted drawings included with post #2871 on 13th October.

It's a pity I can't upload the video here to be sure...

Paul

[stuving]

Here's two views a little after Paul7755's - with those pesky trains out of the way (mostly). In the first one you can see almost all of the layout as expected, plus the Up Feeder Main as far as it goes - not that far, actually. (There's also a rather strange bit of ironmongery just to the left of where it ends.) Yes - the Down Feeder Relief finishes a bit to the west of what can be seen in the second picture, behind the signal head. I don't think that switch is actually in place yet.

In the second, you can see down the old Relief Line formation (temporarily the Mains) where all the earthmoving is going on. You can also see the surprisingly abrupt cross-link from P10 to P11, providing access from the UFM to P10. That's an addition to the original plan - instead there were to be two connections from the UFM, one into P11 (gently) and one to the Up Main before it split (sharply). I guess they found that it was more useful to make the viaduct as long as possible, and put this extra link in instead.

They do seem to be in quite a hurry to bash on with this. As they are working with the Down Relief live, it can't be just an access opportunity. So are they aiming to have it all done and ready early? The EAS says it's not to be attached until Easter, but once this end is built the rest doesn't need major possessions.

[paul7575]

...Yes - the Down Feeder Relief finishes a bit to the west of what can be seen in the second picture, behind the signal head. I don't think that switch is actually in place yet.

The points for both routes were in place in IndustryInsider's cab ride video though...   

Only the bare minimum of rail was fitted at that time though.

Paul

[stuving]

...Yes - the Down Feeder Relief finishes a bit to the west of what can be seen in the second picture, behind the signal head. I don't think that switch is actually in place yet.

The points for both routes were in place in IndustryInsider's cab ride video though...   

Only the bare minimum of rail was fitted at that time though.

Paul

So it was - but recently it's got hard to see it behind all the new vertical (and horizontal) galvanised junk. To clarify, it's been there right from the start - and is between the two crossovers of the reliefs so should be clearly visible in the first of my pictures above. But it's not - a matter of resolution, angle, lighting, distance etc. Here's one from not long ago that shows exactly what's there.

[Chris from Nailsea]

As in earlier photos, that gantry doesn't half spoil the shot! 

Yes, it's a real pain: Network Rail should remove it immediately. 

Thanks for your update pictures despite the obstructions, though. 

[stuving]

As in earlier photos, that gantry doesn't half spoil the shot! 

Yes, it's a real pain: Network Rail should remove it immediately. 

As it happens, the signal gantry in that view has just been removed - but since then (August) a nearer one, and other stuff, have been erected.

[SandTEngineer]

Thanks for posting those updates.  I will have a chance to see it all on Saturday when I next pass through.

How about starting a competition to see who can post a photograph of the first four trains passing in parallel at the foot of the viaduct? 

[IndustryInsider]

The points for both routes were in place in IndustryInsider's cab ride video though...   ;

Look out for another one of those shortly... 

Oh, and well done for getting us past the 200 pages for this topic.  Fitting given all the valuable input you've had on it over the years.

[ChrisB]

Not quite past yet....:-)

[CCTV99]

A very big thank you to all those posting photos and updates on the progress of the works.

 

[lbraine]

At Reading this AM

Above P8 on transit deck is a 15x8 area of display boards showing/ detailing the viaduct work. Network Eail suits and Press in attendance.

Suggests NR^» (Network Rail - home page) is feeling confident about Monday target being met - and perhaps trying to get some positive news cycles out in light of earlier events over Xmas.

Will post today's photos shortly

[Gordon the Blue Engine]

This event was mentioned on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) South News at 1.15pm to-day.  The story was dominated by Mark Carne deciding not to take his bonus, someone demanding that it should be easier for passengers to get refunds, and some completely irrelevant film (I presume library pictures) of some block paving being laid.  Nothing whatever about the huge amount of work being done to remodel Reading, and in particular the fact that many NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and contractor staff have been working over Christmas to get the viaduct into use.

Not really fair on NR and in particular the Reading Project team.   

[BerkshireBugsy]

This event was mentioned on the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) South News at 1.15pm to-day.  The story was dominated by Mark Carne deciding not to take his bonus, someone demanding that it should be easier for passengers to get refunds, and some completely irrelevant film (I presume library pictures) of some block paving being paid.  Nothing whatever about the huge amount of work being done to remodel Reading, and in particular the fact that many NR^» (Network Rail - home page) and contractor staff have been working over Christmas to get the viaduct into use.

Not really fair on NR and in particular the Reading Project team.   

I caught an interview with Mark Carne by Dermot Murnahan on Dky TV and although I think the performance level of rail services over the last few months has been less than satisfactory I thought the agresdiveness of the interview was deplorable. In typical media style the interview was not allowed  to comment on any of the other successes of recent times just the problems.

[ChrisB]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are indicating obtaining refunds for Saturday is going to be made very easy. I guess communications will be forthcoming

Also that NR^» (Network Rail - home page) are currently ahead of schedule at Reading for a timely hand-back

[W5tRailfinder]

I haven^t been to Reading for several years, but I use to come for regular meetings. I am meaning to come along the line and have a look.

Firstly can I thank and congratulate the contributors for an interesting and informative thread ^ pity about the webcams though. The project can be compared to ^A surgeon carrying out open heart surgery, while the patient is running a marathon^. My home station is Ealing Broadway, I don^t think will merit a thread when its upgrade commences.
 
The comments relating to the signage and the position and content of the CIS^▸ (Customer Information System)/PIS^▸ (Passenger Information System) screens within the station remind me of last year when I was a Heathrow Terminal 2 volunteer (guinea pig) taking part in the testing trials prior to the opening of Terminal2 in June. The T2 project team wanted feedback on any problems or faults within the terminal, in order that they could be rectified prior to opening.
Getting back on topic, here are my comments, assumptions and questions.
As was queried earlier, is it likely that one or both of the feeder lines could be operational before Easter?
I have got my ruler and pencil out, and on IndustryInsider^s signalling layout plan joined up both ends of the main and relief feeder lines, then added the down-direction crossover between the Main Feeder (MF^▸ ((in timetables) Monday to Friday)) and Relief Feeder (RF) at the southern end. I assume that each line will consist of a single signal section, with signal numbers T1726 (MF) and T1728 (RF) at the north end and T2803 (MF) and T2805 (RF) at the south, with associated junction indicators, route indicators and repeaters, where necessary.

It immediately becomes obvious that the north end of the layout is flexible offering parallel movements onto and off the feeder lines with no conflicts, however at the southern end, parallel moves are not possible. Down direction Main Feeder to Down Westbury routes down Main Feeder, down Relief Feeder, Down Reading West Curve and then Down Westbury, so conflicting with any up direction routeing from the Up Westbury onto the Relief Feeder. An up loaded stone train could block the route for some time. Is it likely that a crossover between the Up Westbury and Down Westbury will be added in the future, in order that the routeing is not via the Relief Feeder?
 
Is there enough room on the feeder lines to hold a stationery stone train without fouling the junctions at either end? Although the signallers, in practice, currently signal a loaded stone train through the old layout non-stop, will trials be carried out to prove that a stone train can be started anywhere within its new routeing via the feeder lines?
 
As of Christmas 2013, the Down Westbury has been bi-directional between Westbury Line Junction and Reading West station, the signalling layout plan does not show this clearly as there is a missing UP arrow to the left of signal T2814.

Finally, what is the revised track layout of the relief lines between Tilehurst East and where it connects to the existing layout by signals T1745 and T1747 just west of Cow Lane? Looking at the signalling layout plan, RBC^‡(resolve) plans and IndustyInsider^s cab ride video, then deciding what needs to be removed, replaced or added, one can make an attempt to draw it. I assume that from the video, the train is on the current Up Relief, which will become the Up Relief Loop (Up Goods Loop). The western end of the new piece of track within the west end of the depot will be connected to this. The new Up Relief and Down Relief lines will then be created with appropriate crossovers to each other, the Up Relief Loop, Festival Line and Reading West Curve lines.

That^s it for now!

Mike