Reading station redevelopment - Page 6

cle · April 6th, 2011, 11:36 AM

It's a bit ridiculous that a route which makes sense (Guildford - Reading - Oxford) linking three of the south's most prosperous towns, will cover unelectrified, 3rd rail and OHLE in such a short distance!

Glad the third Southern platform is coming along. The current services fit well enough into the two though (one for Waterloo, 2tph, one for Redhill/Gatwick 2tph) so what service expansion might we see with the additional platform? Is it for Airtrack eventually?

And are the North Downs diesels actually intended to use the dive-under and terminate over on the north, or stay where they are?

I wish they'd fill in the North Downs third rail, and have a fast, regular service to Brighton, like Virgin used to do.

reading general · April 6th, 2011, 05:50 PM

i'm guessing the north downs trains will begin from the northern relief platforms. currently the first trains in the morning begin from the main station so they don't have to reverse back up to the southern electric platforms, 4a and b. only some north downs line trains stop at the stations between reading general and wokingham. so wokingham is the only stop they have in common really. it certainly does make sense to make at least one train an hour a through from oxford, or perhaps cross country could begin the brighton/portsmouth harbour service again which omitted all the stops between reading and guildford.
the waterloo line service is a very popular service, so perhaps these could become every 20 minutes all day. giving bracknell 3tph in both directions rather than the current 2tph.

peterson · April 6th, 2011, 10:55 PM

It looks as if the new southern platform will stretch right across Vastern Road. This is longer than the existing 4a/4b isn't it?

I'm sure they said the new southern platform was provision for Airtrack, although that project doesn't seem to have much impetus at the moment. I have heard no plans for enhanced Waterloo services.

reading general · April 7th, 2011, 07:39 PM

4a 4b finish just before the bridge, as it is only single track across the bridge for access to these platforms. this is because when the southern station was shut only 1 platform was needed at the time. the southwest trains only just fit onto the platform length only about 2/3 metres from the points. so i guess the other 2 platforms will reach across the bridge too. provision for 10 car trains in the future perhaps.

TedStriker · April 9th, 2011, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cle

It's a bit ridiculous that a route which makes sense (Guildford - Reading - Oxford) linking three of the south's most prosperous towns, will cover unelectrified, 3rd rail and OHLE in such a short distance!

I believe the Network Rail plan - or hopeful plan, it may be better to say - is to eventually electrify the Redhill-Reading line with a third rail, in accordance with this route becoming an official route for Channel Tunnel freight trains that either wish to avoid London completely, or enter London via the GWML.

This would enable class 92 locomotives to operate along it's length, as well as the usual mix of third rail EMUs.

makita09 · April 11th, 2011, 11:22 AM

Yeah they want to create a flyover at Redhill from the Tonbridge line to the Guildford line to facilitate this. They have been opposing a supermarket development in Redhill that is on the site they want for the link.

They also need to sort out the power supply on the Redhill - Tonbridge section to allow class 92s, there is an isolation problem with the signalling system specifically when 92s operate over the route.

reading general · April 19th, 2011, 10:59 AM

an update.

like the bridge on the caversham road end of the station, the extension to the vastern road bridge has been made to look like the existing bridge. work has started on fitting the bridge on the southern electric side in place. all of it arriving in sections to bolt together on site.

the site of the new platform and the bridge in the background

a strange addition to the dive under tunnel east of the station.

permanent looking buildings on the site of the kings meadow goods station, east of the station, just beyond the dive under. for accomodation and storage i'm guessing.

demolition on the northern side of the station for the new entrance there has begun.

the buses have been evicted from the front of the station and the crossing closed to traffic.
view from garrard street car park. due to be demolished as part of sackvilles station hill plan.

the new footbridge will go here

cheers

sdav96s · April 19th, 2011, 11:05 AM

Thanks for the update

I understand that the new concourse will be a new build where the bus station currently is, as well as using the pub. Will the existing station facilities remain, or are these due to be demolished and all facililties moved in to the new building? If they are to remain, is it being refurbished as it is very dated?

Thanks.

reading general · April 19th, 2011, 11:36 AM

quite an odd situation with the new concourse. network rail i believe will only build the footbridge and the northern entrance. the council will have to pay for the southern concourse. it is the councils idea to move the buses and close the crossing in front of the station to traffic. this area will be dug down to natural ground level on the western side as the concrete roadway holding up the bus termini is knackered. i'm still a little confused as to why this is being returned to natural level and not being rebuilt to how it is now.
so i think the current concourse will remain in use until the council find the funds to sort this area out. so i guess two entrances to the station will be on the southern side for the time being.
good news is the pub will remain in situ.

reading general · April 19th, 2011, 11:39 AM

http://www.getreading.co.uk/business...lopment_plans#

some designs for the concourse here. though these are slightly out of date

reading general · May 20th, 2011, 10:41 PM

network rail video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN2OE...embedded#at=27

peterson · May 28th, 2011, 12:28 AM

What new trains are actually going to serve the station in the foreseeable future?

The southern platform was for air track, which is cancelled. The northern ones are for cross rail - yet despite the announcement of electrification, still no news on an extension to Reading. Maybe this east-west link, or the windsor link? But these are little more than ideas aren't they?

reading general · June 1st, 2011, 12:37 AM

not sure that the new northern platforms are for the benefit of crossrail. relief line trains will use these to run through and start and teminate.
the idea of their addition is to free up fast line platform space, so instead of the existing 2(sometimes 3) platform faces, there will be four to use to prevent queuing outside the station. the next train can arrive and begin to empty/load while the previous train is departing.
as for the southern lines extra platform you may well be right in mentioning that this would have freed space for airtrack, but because of the single track across the bridge into the platforms these trains can be held outside the station too. so the extra platform faces and track across the vastern road bridge will be of use.

TedStriker · June 1st, 2011, 09:31 AM

Does anyone know if any IC services will run non-stop through Reading once the new flyover is built, and if so, at what frequency?

Also, does anyone know what the line speed will be over the flyover?

Harry · June 2nd, 2011, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TedStriker

Does anyone know if any IC services will run non-stop through Reading once the new flyover is built, and if so, at what frequency?

Given the importance of Reading as a transport hub, I would be very surprised if this happened.

reading general · June 2nd, 2011, 10:45 AM

i think most trains stop because of demand to change trains, not cause they have to. currently i think there are only a couple of trains in the morning going towards london that don't stop. its very rare to be on reading station and spot a non stop through passenger train

reading general · June 15th, 2011, 04:52 PM

an update on the bridges

vastern road southern side

northern side

northern side from the station footbridge

the completed caversham road bridge. complete with tiles and blue bricks to match the existing part of the bridge

demolition of the signal box (the wooden shack)

site of the northern station entrance from the station footbridge

finally the site of the new motive power depot at cow lane

***Tubeman*** · June 15th, 2011, 08:27 PM

Thanks as ever for documenting this RG, great work!

reading general · July 14th, 2011, 06:01 PM

another update

vastern road bridge and new southern electric platform site

northern entrance site

eastern dive under and ramp site

this is the former entrance to the huntley and palmers factory from the northern side futher east from the dive under. due to be opened as a footpath to allow access from the newtown area to tesco at kings meadow

i have posted this before a couple of years back. this is an odd sign on kenavon drive in a retail park/residential area that was the former huntley and palmers site. and it does point towards the station.

is there something we don't know?

Stuu · July 15th, 2011, 04:04 AM

Now I know there is a limit to how much can be done, and how much money can be spent each year etc. And also the limitations of working alongside an incredibly busy railway line, but this still seems to be moving incredibly slowly. I assume I've answered my own question and its down to limiting the capex in each period, or is there another reason?

April 11th, 2011, 11:22 AM	#106
makita09 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 2,392 Likes (Received): 26	Yeah they want to create a flyover at Redhill from the Tonbridge line to the Guildford line to facilitate this. They have been opposing a supermarket development in Redhill that is on the site they want for the link. They also need to sort out the power supply on the Redhill - Tonbridge section to allow class 92s, there is an isolation problem with the signalling system specifically when 92s operate over the route. __________________ I think about everything that exists. This is a far smaller topic compared to most.

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April 6th, 2011, 11:36 AM	#101
cle Registered User Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 2,986 Likes (Received): 35	It's a bit ridiculous that a route which makes sense (Guildford - Reading - Oxford) linking three of the south's most prosperous towns, will cover unelectrified, 3rd rail and OHLE in such a short distance! Glad the third Southern platform is coming along. The current services fit well enough into the two though (one for Waterloo, 2tph, one for Redhill/Gatwick 2tph) so what service expansion might we see with the additional platform? Is it for Airtrack eventually? And are the North Downs diesels actually intended to use the dive-under and terminate over on the north, or stay where they are? I wish they'd fill in the North Downs third rail, and have a fast, regular service to Brighton, like Virgin used to do.

April 6th, 2011, 05:50 PM	#102
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	i'm guessing the north downs trains will begin from the northern relief platforms. currently the first trains in the morning begin from the main station so they don't have to reverse back up to the southern electric platforms, 4a and b. only some north downs line trains stop at the stations between reading general and wokingham. so wokingham is the only stop they have in common really. it certainly does make sense to make at least one train an hour a through from oxford, or perhaps cross country could begin the brighton/portsmouth harbour service again which omitted all the stops between reading and guildford. the waterloo line service is a very popular service, so perhaps these could become every 20 minutes all day. giving bracknell 3tph in both directions rather than the current 2tph.

April 6th, 2011, 10:55 PM	#103
peterson Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Reading Posts: 53 Likes (Received): 0	It looks as if the new southern platform will stretch right across Vastern Road. This is longer than the existing 4a/4b isn't it? I'm sure they said the new southern platform was provision for Airtrack, although that project doesn't seem to have much impetus at the moment. I have heard no plans for enhanced Waterloo services.

April 7th, 2011, 07:39 PM	#104
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	4a 4b finish just before the bridge, as it is only single track across the bridge for access to these platforms. this is because when the southern station was shut only 1 platform was needed at the time. the southwest trains only just fit onto the platform length only about 2/3 metres from the points. so i guess the other 2 platforms will reach across the bridge too. provision for 10 car trains in the future perhaps.

April 19th, 2011, 10:59 AM	#107
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	an update. like the bridge on the caversham road end of the station, the extension to the vastern road bridge has been made to look like the existing bridge. work has started on fitting the bridge on the southern electric side in place. all of it arriving in sections to bolt together on site. the site of the new platform and the bridge in the background a strange addition to the dive under tunnel east of the station. permanent looking buildings on the site of the kings meadow goods station, east of the station, just beyond the dive under. for accomodation and storage i'm guessing. demolition on the northern side of the station for the new entrance there has begun. the buses have been evicted from the front of the station and the crossing closed to traffic. view from garrard street car park. due to be demolished as part of sackvilles station hill plan. the new footbridge will go here cheers

April 19th, 2011, 11:05 AM	#108
sdav96s Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 37 Likes (Received): 0	Thanks for the update I understand that the new concourse will be a new build where the bus station currently is, as well as using the pub. Will the existing station facilities remain, or are these due to be demolished and all facililties moved in to the new building? If they are to remain, is it being refurbished as it is very dated? Thanks.

April 19th, 2011, 11:36 AM	#109
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	quite an odd situation with the new concourse. network rail i believe will only build the footbridge and the northern entrance. the council will have to pay for the southern concourse. it is the councils idea to move the buses and close the crossing in front of the station to traffic. this area will be dug down to natural ground level on the western side as the concrete roadway holding up the bus termini is knackered. i'm still a little confused as to why this is being returned to natural level and not being rebuilt to how it is now. so i think the current concourse will remain in use until the council find the funds to sort this area out. so i guess two entrances to the station will be on the southern side for the time being. good news is the pub will remain in situ.

April 19th, 2011, 11:39 AM	#110
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	http://www.getreading.co.uk/business...lopment_plans# some designs for the concourse here. though these are slightly out of date

May 20th, 2011, 10:41 PM	#111
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	network rail video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yN2OE...embedded#at=27

May 28th, 2011, 12:28 AM	#112
peterson Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Reading Posts: 53 Likes (Received): 0	What new trains are actually going to serve the station in the foreseeable future? The southern platform was for air track, which is cancelled. The northern ones are for cross rail - yet despite the announcement of electrification, still no news on an extension to Reading. Maybe this east-west link, or the windsor link? But these are little more than ideas aren't they?

June 1st, 2011, 12:37 AM	#113
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	not sure that the new northern platforms are for the benefit of crossrail. relief line trains will use these to run through and start and teminate. the idea of their addition is to free up fast line platform space, so instead of the existing 2(sometimes 3) platform faces, there will be four to use to prevent queuing outside the station. the next train can arrive and begin to empty/load while the previous train is departing. as for the southern lines extra platform you may well be right in mentioning that this would have freed space for airtrack, but because of the single track across the bridge into the platforms these trains can be held outside the station too. so the extra platform faces and track across the vastern road bridge will be of use.

June 1st, 2011, 09:31 AM	#114
TedStriker Over Macho Grande Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 1,308 Likes (Received): 9	Does anyone know if any IC services will run non-stop through Reading once the new flyover is built, and if so, at what frequency? Also, does anyone know what the line speed will be over the flyover?

June 2nd, 2011, 10:45 AM	#116
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	i think most trains stop because of demand to change trains, not cause they have to. currently i think there are only a couple of trains in the morning going towards london that don't stop. its very rare to be on reading station and spot a non stop through passenger train

June 15th, 2011, 04:52 PM	#117
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	an update on the bridges vastern road southern side northern side northern side from the station footbridge the completed caversham road bridge. complete with tiles and blue bricks to match the existing part of the bridge demolition of the signal box (the wooden shack) site of the northern station entrance from the station footbridge finally the site of the new motive power depot at cow lane

June 15th, 2011, 08:27 PM	#118
*Tubeman* Jubilation Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: London SE15 Posts: 18,105 Likes (Received): 311	Thanks as ever for documenting this RG, great work!

July 14th, 2011, 06:01 PM	#119
reading general Registered User Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: the tilehurst end Posts: 433 Likes (Received): 4	another update vastern road bridge and new southern electric platform site northern entrance site eastern dive under and ramp site this is the former entrance to the huntley and palmers factory from the northern side futher east from the dive under. due to be opened as a footpath to allow access from the newtown area to tesco at kings meadow i have posted this before a couple of years back. this is an odd sign on kenavon drive in a retail park/residential area that was the former huntley and palmers site. and it does point towards the station. is there something we don't know?

July 15th, 2011, 04:04 AM	#120
Stuu Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 83 Likes (Received): 0	Now I know there is a limit to how much can be done, and how much money can be spent each year etc. And also the limitations of working alongside an incredibly busy railway line, but this still seems to be moving incredibly slowly. I assume I've answered my own question and its down to limiting the capex in each period, or is there another reason?