feature
Reading Station
Development through partnership
original plans were rejected by the One of the critical elements of the
planning committee. Well if he was scheme is the Cow Lane under
trying to be awkward then he bridge at the west end of the
certainly succeeded. station and one of the fundamental
issues that needed to be resolved at
Increase in freight traffic the outset, was whether to design a
Reading soon became a major flyover for the main lines to travel
junction with routes added to over the layout or design an
Newbury and Hungerford, then underpass which would have closed
Basingstoke. In 1849 the line from the northern Cow Lane Bridge.
Guildford reached Reading and by
1897, the one sided station had to Benefits for local residents
be replaced by ten new platforms, After careful consideration, the
similar to the layout we see today. option to construct a flyover for the
A new concourse was added in main lines was chosen. This decision
1989 to improve passenger access has presented the project team with Congestion at Cow Lane Bridge.
and today the station continues to the opportunity to widen the bridge
thrive with more than 50,000 and lower the road at Cow Lane
passengers using the station every Bridge. Surveys permitting, this will
single day. provide adequate clearances for
Also, the increase in freight traffic, double decked buses as well as high
60 per cent over the last ten years, sided lorries. The scheme will also
is expected to grow with an include a dedicated cycle way and
anticipated increase in freight pedestrian access. The view is that
originating from the port of this approach will ensure that all
Southampton, passing through concerned will benefit including the
Reading. At present there is one local residents, thus emphasising
freight train, believed to be the one of the key aims of this project
longest in the country that passes team.
through Reading, snaking across the
GW main lines each day which is New freight train paths
more than 1km long. It must be an The fly over and Eastern Chord will
operator's nightmare. improve capacity, which will
Everyone who travels through facilitate the 6 new freight train
Reading on a regular basis will be paths currently forecast each day.
familiar with delays caused by other NR is particularly pleased with this
train movements and they will facility since it could take more than
know that the railway infrastructure 200 lorries a day off our roads. In
is totally inadequate for today's addition, rail freight has only a
requirements. quarter of the carbon footprint
created by lorries. This means that
Fly over or go under the project will contribute to
So what is to be done? Corus Rail reductions in carbon and of course
Consultancy has been supporting the congestion on the roads. Ironically,
Network Rail project team, this is also good news for motorists.
developing feasibility studies that
focus on reducing existing delays by New platforms
at least 37 percent, whilst catering The intention is that by December
for the anticipated increased 2010, the Reading signal box will
demand. The scheme needs to have been moved to a new Thames
ensure that freight trains do not Valley signalling centre thus
cross the main lines and to create releasing land at the north end of
opportunities for trains to pass the station. This will enable four
through the station without causing new platforms to be built, easing
conflict with other services. overcrowding, offering more options
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october 2008 | the rail engineer | 17
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