Railway Bridge Shenanigans

[Jimmy Riddle]

Just what the blue blazes are they doing under that railway bridge between Vastern Road and Forbury Road. Lots of heavy duty machinery, piling and allsorts - are they widening the Bridge or something?

And could they have disrupted the traffic more if they tried?

[chris_j_wood]

Yes, they are widening the railway over the bridge.

On the south side to provide access to the three terminal platforms that will replace the current platforms 4A and 4B. On the north side to provide access to the five new platforms that are going to be built to the north of the existing platforms.

[jonbryce]

And also, the three terminal platforms will be able to take trains up to 12 carriages long whereas the existing ones can only take 8 carriage trains.

[Jimmy Riddle]

Thanks for the replies.

5 new platforms? Is that in addition to the ones that are already there or are they part of ‘enabling works’ for the new station?

[Les]

It looks like it could be worth keeping a photographic eye on, I must wander off down there.

[wirewiper]

5 new platforms? Is that in addition to the ones that are already there or are they part of ‘enabling works’ for the new station?

Yes, the five platforms to the north will be additional platforms. They will be used by semi-fast and stopping Paddington-Oxford services to and from Oxford as well as Paddington-Reading and Henley-Reading local services. Reading-Gatwick services will also be able to access these platforms via a reinstated underpass.

Once these platforms are operational works will take place to adapt existing platforms 4-10 for their new roles.

Once the works are complete:

The current platform 4 will become the main platform for Cross-Country services; they will reverse here if they are not terminating in Reading.

Current platforms 5 and 8 will be used by westbound inter-city trains. Having two platforms available will mean that if one train is slightly delayed the following train can come into the station without having to wait outside, as often happens now. The short platforms in between (6 & 7) will no longer be used, as trains using these platforms will be rerouted to the new platforms. This will eliminate some conflicting moves (again reducing delays) and potentially give more space for passenger facilities.

Current platform 10 will be rebuilt as a through platform and together with platform 9 will become the London-bound platforms for Intercity trains; again having two platforms will reduce delays. Trains currently using platforms 9 & 10 will be rerouted to the new platforms.

I hope this makes sense!

[chris_j_wood]

Yes, I think it does. Although I should point out that the platform you describe as 'current platform 10 rebuilt as a through platform' counts as one of the five new platforms.

Once all this has finished there will be 9 through platforms on the mainline (the current platform 4 plus both sides of four island platforms to its north), plus the 3 existing west-facing terminal platforms (currently platforms 1-3) to the west of the old station building, plus 3 new east-facing terminal platforms to the east of the old station building (on the site of the current platforms 4A & 4B).

The through platforms will be used as described by wirewiper. The west-facing terminal platforms will be used by local trains from Newbury & Basingstoke, much as at present, and the west-facing terminal platforms will be used by the service to Waterloo, and those Guildford/Gatwick trains that don't get diverted through the underpass to the north side of the station.

[savagethegoat]

east facing you mean the second time I guess...

[Les]

Here you go then people, especially for the Ex-pats but also for anyone else who does not want to venture forth that far.

All that I can say is I am glad that I am not working in Reading Central 1!
It will be interesting to see what they are going to do on the Wet side of Vastern Road. I must find the place where they have got the display and have a good look at it.
I will get some more pics as the work progresses.

[Yola]

Monsters! They have similar ones by the bridge on Caversham Road; the boys nearly wet themselves with excitement at the sight of so many diggers, cranes and other orange beasts

[Jimmy Riddle]

Whilst going past on the bus, I caught a glimpse inside the cab of the big red one (with the massive drill bit). I was surprised to see a computer monitor and keyboard - some kind of GPS?

[Les]

I didn't see any of that Jimmy, but I did watch while he manouvred the drill bit down the inside of the tube and that was done very carefully with the help of a Banksman. It seemed to go an awful long way down. I wonder if there is any oil down there? That would cause a bit of a flap wouldn't it.

Yola, My now 13/14 year old grandson used to love going over the Southampton Street flyover while the Oracle groundwork was being carried out because of all the machinery crawling about there.I think my daughter used a similar expression to yours about excitment induced incontinence!

[piwacket]

Monsters! They have similar ones by the bridge on Caversham Road; the boys nearly wet themselves with excitement at the sight of so many diggers, cranes and other orange beasts

I'm with your sons Yola - I think they're fabulous!

Lucky chaps to be able play with those all day!

[savagethegoat]

i love all thesea s well, the nearest I have got to playing with Plant is a fork-lift...great fun but i caused quite a lot of damage which I wouldnt want anyto know about

[Les]

I bet the bloke driving that crane has got to be a bit careful, imagine taking a few (or a lot of ) lumps of glass out of the side of that office monster.

[piwacket]

Do you mean that 'Pink carbuncle' about which one of Lady Mayor's referred?

[Les]

No No Lady Pi, look at the photo, that carbunkle isn't pink! Blimey if he hit the Pink Carbuncle with the crane where it it would be out of control!!

[peterson]

Do you know whether they'll fill in 6 and 7, or narrow the whole island to create more space for the new layout to the north?

[savagethegoat]

5 and 8 are quite narrow as it is so filling the bays to make more room would be my guess. I shall be very sorry to see the General messed around as it is still very much as it was pre WW2. I hope they retain the canopies at least.

[smiff]

Yell move into RC1 in a couple of months. What a lovely view they'll have for the next few months/years