Reading Station improvements

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

NR^» (Network Rail - home page) reported project on time at the 10am checkpoint meeting today

[stuving]

For those of you who couldn't get to Reading today to see the trains having fun scampering in and out of their new rabbit holes, here's a picture of 1A81 coming up the Down Feeder MainRelief to enter P12. This is the second of the two trains from Penzance that arrive almost together, and the other (1A16) which set off an hour earlier but came via Swindon, is visible in P10.

1A81 was due into P11 at 13:16, and shown as such on the train describer mimic screen at 13:11. By the time I had got upstairs it was being announced as a platform change to P12, and switched from the UFM to the DFR, which seems unnecessary. Is there some problem with having these two trains across a platform from each other - do they squabble?

[Louis94]

For those of you who couldn't get to Reading today to see the trains having fun scampering in and out of their new rabbit holes, here's a picture of 1A81 coming up the Down Feeder Main to enter P12. This is the second of the two trains from Penzance that arrive almost together, and the other (1A16) which set off an hour earlier but came via Swindon, is visible in P10.

1A81 was due into P11 at 13:16, and shown as such on the train describer mimic screen at 13:11. By the time I had got upstairs it was being announced as a platform change to P12, and switched from the UFM to the DFR, which seems unnecessary. Is there some problem with having these two trains across a platform from each other - do they squabble?

In the picture it is on the Down Feeder Relief, the Up Feeder Main is on the left. Don't know what you mean by it switched from the UFM to DFR, there is no way of doing this - you either go to one or the other from Oxford Road Junction.

Some trains have not used the Feeder lines today, these instead using Platform 7/8. Maybe someone with knowledge of the interlocking can advise whether trains can arrive into Platform 11 with a route set from Platform 10? Sounds like a flaw in the system if you can't!

[stuving]

In the picture it is on the Down Feeder Relief, the Up Feeder Main is on the left. Don't know what you mean by it switched from the UFM to DFR, there is no way of doing this - you either go to one or the other from Oxford Road Junction.

Sorry - my mistake in typing. I meant its route was switched at Oxford Road Junction, which must have been at the last minute.

Some trains have not used the Feeder lines today, these instead using Platform 7/8. Maybe someone with knowledge of the interlocking can advise whether trains can arrive into Platform 11 with a route set from Platform 10? Sounds like a flaw in the system if you can't!

I'm sure they can - or maybe that should be will; might there be a short-term restriction on this? I can believe that there is still some further fettling to do.

I did see there was train to Penzance (1C86 at 15:39) that went through P12 - which seems pretty odd too. 

[Adelante_CCT]

Set off this morning and saw the first trains round the new curves, a couple of freight trains which were using the Feeder Main heading towards Westbury, can we say that this is already an unusual move on the first day of running? Also saw the first passenger service (05:15 Newbury) and also managed to get a video of the first train using the Festival line (06:10 Manchester)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuuPtxKNM-8

Popped into work for a couple of hours and then set off on a days travelling, firstly doing the east diveunder which I'd already done before on the 10:21 from Shalford, then onto the 11:44 from Newbury and 12:12 back using Feeder relief. On upto Oxford and catching the 13:43 back going via the Festival line, then down to Theale and back to traverse the Feeder Main, all in all a reasonably successful day.

As previously mentioned in this thread I'd noticed that HSTs^▸ (High Speed Train) from Westbury direction were not using Feeder Main after 09:00 this morning however all the Bedwyn turbos were, I'm assuming there is a problem with the HSTs using the Feeder Main (Too tight of a curve perhaps?) Perhaps someone on the inside could enlighten us to this problem.

(Edit: I don't see it being a problem with interlocking as the bedwyns were arriving P11 whilst other services were in P10)

[Adelante_CCT]

I did see there was train to Penzance (1C86 at 15:39) that went through P12 - which seems pretty odd too. 

I assume this is to do with the failed 14:45 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) to SWA^» (Swansea - next trains).
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20172/2015/04/13/advanced
All trains after this have used relief line from Slough onwards. The 15:39 and other WestCountry services after it have just stayed on the relief, used P12 and then crossed under, makes sense to me than blocking the up Main east of Reading by crossing over.

(Edit: It finally made it into Reading, just the 205mins Late)

[stuving]

Well, finally another HST^▸ (High Speed Train) managed to sneak into P11 - 1A92 at 20:10.

[John R]

I did see there was train to Penzance (1C86 at 15:39) that went through P12 - which seems pretty odd too. 

I assume this is to do with the failed 14:45 PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) to SWA^» (Swansea - next trains).
http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C20172/2015/04/13/advanced
All trains after this have used relief line from Slough onwards. The 15:39 and other WestCountry services after it have just stayed on the relief, used P12 and then crossed under, makes sense to me than blocking the up Main east of Reading by crossing over.

(Edit: It finally made it into Reading, just the 205mins Late)

Apparently the 1730 Pad to Taunton stopped alongside to allow a fitter to board. Does beg the question why it should take nearly 3 hrs for that to happen so close to OOC^▸ (Old Oak Common (depot)).

[Adelante_CCT]

Well, finally another HST^▸ (High Speed Train) managed to sneak into P11 - 1A92 at 20:10.

1A94 has now followed it, I wonder why the change?

[W5tRailfinder]

Reminder to everyone.

Looking at reply no #3006, the track and signalling diagrams that Industry Insider provided the proper names for the feeder lines are: Reading Feeder Main and Reading Feeder  Relief, no Up or Down.

With all this commissioned over the weekend, what is left to do? Is it just tidying up? Has all the temporary  Whitehouse junction point work been removed? 

I did notice in one of network rail's Easter photos, the laying of the points in the Up Reading Passenger Loop for the depot connection 'A', has this actually been connected to the depot?

[Louis94]

Reminder to everyone.

Looking at reply no #3006, the track and signalling diagrams that Industry Insider provided the proper names for the feeder lines are: Reading Feeder Main and Reading Feeder  Relief, no Up or Down.

The diagram may show it like that (not saying its wrong of course), but train planning information does refer to them as 'DFR' and 'UFM', suggesting Up and Down directions. I guess you could say the railway is full of inconsistencies!

Another example of inconsistency is that the Reading Festival line on the diagram is called DOWN Reading Festival, where as train planning information refers to it as FVL, suggesting Festival Reversal. (RVL being what is used for reversible normally)

[Timmer]

Well, finally another HST^▸ (High Speed Train) managed to sneak into P11 - 1A92 at 20:10.

I know, I was on it. Most impressed as we went under the flyover and smoothly glided into the northern side of the station.

At the time I thought it's a shame that more isn't being made of what an incredible job has been done at Reading station and on the approaches that allows trains to come in and out of the station without conflict and queuing of trains waiting for a platform. But of course it's a good news story so not worth reporting.

[ChrisB]

With all this commissioned over the weekend, what is left to do? Is it just tidying up? Has all the temporary  Whitehouse junction point work been removed? 

Not sure about that - but FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers/TMs^‡(resolve) were talking to Banbury staff about being back there again at Christmas.....I thought there weren't any more Banbury trips planned?

[stuving]

Not sure about that - but FGW^▸ (First Great Western) drivers/TMs^‡(resolve) were talking to Banbury staff about being back there again at Christmas.....I thought there weren't any more Banbury trips planned?

There are possessions planned for at least a couple of days following Christmas - there's still loads to be done! There's Paddington station, Electrification and Crossrail continue, and work starts on re-doing Oxford. Whether that means diversions or just buses isn't clear. 

[IndustryInsider]

Yes, no more diversions due to the Reading programme, but possibly some in the future due to Crossrail/Electrification/WRAtH^▸ (Western Rail Access to Heathrow) etc.?  Mostly just tidying up work to do at Reading now, including line speed increases on both main and relief lines when flashing yellow aspects are commissioned later in the year, and I'm not sure whether Depot Connection 'A' has been commissioned yet?