Good News on the U.K. Rail Network in 2020

[warwickshire]

After many years of being proposed a new station is being built on the Basingstoke to Reading line called Reading Green park. The foundations and concrete bases are just being created and the station base for the station on the bottom foundations off which it is created upon is brand new

 

[3973EXL]

After many years of being proposed a new station is being built on the Basingstoke to Reading line called Reading Green park. The foundations and concrete bases are just being created and the station base for the station on the bottom foundations off which it is created upon is brand new

Green Park 13/10

 

[cle]

Do those concrete blocks represent the full platform length? What is it intended to be?

 

[Jamesrob637]

After many years of being proposed a new station is being built on the Basingstoke to Reading line called Reading Green park. The foundations and concrete bases are just being created and the station base for the station on the bottom foundations off which it is created upon is brand new

That was in proposal two years ago when I had a short meeting at the nearby Millennium Madjeski Hotel!

 

[High Dyke]

The idea for using polystyrene blocks to reduce costs seems to have gone by the wayside for projects these days.

Meanwhile, something else to go on. Sibsey signal box has a brand new 'indoor' toilet. Not much in the grand scheme of things, but a veritable improvement for the staff there.

 

[YorksLad12]

The idea for using polystyrene blocks to reduce costs seems to have gone by the wayside for projects these days.

I can't tell if you're joking or if you meant breeze blocks...

 

[High Dyke]

I can't tell if you're joking or if you meant breeze blocks...

No, polystyrene blocks. I'm sure the extension to platform 1 at Peterborough utilises this concept.

Edit:
Link from Network Rail. https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/polystyrene-platform-steals-the-show-at-peterborough

 

[GLC]

I can't tell if you're joking or if you meant breeze blocks...

Polystyrene was used to fill in the excavated longer platforms made at Glasgow Queen Street in 2016, until the new platforms could actually be built in 2019

 

[Jozhua]

Seeing mentions of shovels in for HS2! Love that.

Also tried out the new Metrolink Trafford Park line the other day.

A trip post lockdown to Newcastle was entirely on a brand new TPE 802. Super fast north of York, really enjoyable!

It's been entirely double 185 sets on TPE services between Sheffield and Manchester as well, so that's fantastic.

Not related to rail, but I think it will have a positive impact on it - cycling. It's definitely fallen from lockdown heights, but I think it has given authorities more of a push to roll out some decent cycling infrastructure. It's a fantastic last mile (or five) solution, and parking a bike at a station takes much less space! Hopefully the industry increases provision to match (not just on trains, but parking in stations). Still a lot of work to be done to make it safe and viable enough for many, but the moderate increase for now will hopefully keep cycling trending upwards.

Single class 153s are now a thing of the past in the East Midlands. They have one remaining Lincoln Joint line diagram as a pair between Peterborough and Doncaster, another pair between Barton and Cleethorpes and strengthen Worksop/Skegness/Liverpool services as required with limited running to Derby/Matlock to get them to Etches Park for maintenance. With class 170 entering service, hopefully, sometime between now and December they should be gone altogether before too long. I'll miss them but they're well past their sell by date.

Oh thank the lord. The amount of single 153's I travelled on living down there was unbelievable. I think 170's will be a definite upgrade.

 

[Jamesrob637]

Seeing mentions of shovels in for HS2! Love that.

Also tried out the new Metrolink Trafford Park line the other day.

A trip post lockdown to Newcastle was entirely on a brand new TPE 802. Super fast north of York, really enjoyable!

It's been entirely double 185 sets on TPE services between Sheffield and Manchester as well, so that's fantastic.

Not related to rail, but I think it will have a positive impact on it - cycling. It's definitely fallen from lockdown heights, but I think it has given authorities more of a push to roll out some decent cycling infrastructure. It's a fantastic last mile (or five) solution, and parking a bike at a station takes much less space! Hopefully the industry increases provision to match (not just on trains, but parking in stations). Still a lot of work to be done to make it safe and viable enough for many, but the moderate increase for now will hopefully keep cycling trending upwards.


Oh thank the lord. The amount of single 153's I travelled on living down there was unbelievable. I think 170's will be a definite upgrade.

Doubles on South TPE would have become the norm without COVID - Novas were coming in thick and fast to cascade them prior to March. 802s were doing most Newcastles even back in January.

Not saying you're wrong of course, au contraire. Not done the Trafford Park line yet.

 

[YorksLad12]

No, polystyrene blocks. I'm sure the extension to platform 1 at Peterborough utilises this concept.

Edit:
Link from Network Rail. https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/polystyrene-platform-steals-the-show-at-peterborough

Polystyrene was used to fill in the excavated longer platforms made at Glasgow Queen Street in 2016, until the new platforms could actually be built in 2019

Well... every day's a school day. The only thing I (thought I) knew about polystyrene is that it's easy to set fire to and gives off black smoke. Hence my question.

 

[swt_passenger]

The idea for using polystyrene blocks to reduce costs seems to have gone by the wayside for projects these days.

Must depend on ground conditions, Reading Green Park is fully piled, all those concrete sections are the “pile caps” which group the sets of piles together at ground level.

I expect you’ll still see polystyrene blocks used if the build includes back filling behind conventional walling.

 

[NoMorePacers]

Double 185s on near enough all Hull-Manchester services has been lovely to see and ride on - quite enjoyed getting on a service home at Leeds at around 8:30 in the evening and not having to head to the dance hall to get a seat. Good on them. Also, and this is purely from my enthusiasts' perspective, it makes it easier for me to knock them off.

 

[tetudo boy]

Kintore station opened 2 days ago after 56 years!

 

[LOL The Irony]

The Wilko's where Blackpool North tram stop will go finally started being demolished in September.

 

[Jamesrob637]

The Wilko's where Blackpool North tram stop will go finally started being demolished in September.

Demolition was already in progress four weeks ago when I visited.

Double 185s on near enough all Hull-Manchester services has been lovely to see and ride on - quite enjoyed getting on a service home at Leeds at around 8:30 in the evening and not having to head to the dance hall to get a seat. Good on them. Also, and this is purely from my enthusiasts' perspective, it makes it easier for me to knock them off.

Should still all be booked 6-car after December.

 

[Class 170101]

Double 185s on near enough all Hull-Manchester services has been lovely to see and ride on - quite enjoyed getting on a service home at Leeds at around 8:30 in the evening and not having to head to the dance hall to get a seat. Good on them. Also, and this is purely from my enthusiasts' perspective, it makes it easier for me to knock them off.

Should still all be booked 6-car after December.

Does this mean TPE are keeping all the Class 185s rather than losing some elsewhere?

 

[Jamesrob637]

Does this mean TPE are keeping all the Class 185s rather than losing some elsewhere?

They're keeping all their 185s for now yes.