Caversham Road opened early today after the new 1000 ton railbridge was lifted into place over the New Year Break. The massive structure way moved into place by a “self propelled modular transporter” which was seen coming into Reading just before the New Year (as pictured below)
This great news means that if you are returning to work tomorrow, there will be a full train service, and Caversham Road is open for business as usual (as seen in the video below).
If you want to read more about the redevelopment of Reading Train Station, view our last article about the £850 million project that will further support Reading being the “hub of the South” into 2011 and beyond. http://www.thecityofreading.com/2010/11/18/reading-station-redevelopment-update/
The footpaths underneath the new structure are also open for pedestrians (as pictured below) so the return to work should be hassle free.
good timelapse of the bridge work on youtube
[...] New updated story on station redevelopment http://www.thecityofreading.com/2011/01/03/reading-station-redevelopment-update-03-01-2011/ [...]
A view of the railway network for the UK shows that Reading if you are travelling from the South West of Great Britain, you are almost certain to pass through Reading Railway Station, with Reading being the last major interchange station before London Paddington. http://www.projectmapping.co.uk/Resources/TOCs%2023.4%20Dec%202010.pdf
And although the project is at a critical point,frozen until the budget defit review this autumn, we must not forget the Air Track Project which would link Reading Directly with Heathrow. This would enable passengers to get from Reading to Heathrow Terminal 5 in 45 minutes http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathrow_Airtrack
The CrossRail Project is an interesting one, but it is also worth noting that Reading is only 14 minutes by rail from Maidenhead with no changes on the main services. So Crossrail will be available to people coming into Reading Station.
“The hub of the south” yet Crossrail will terminate at Maidenhead – what a joke.
http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/
Thanks for the update C of R. I am sure like many returning to work the thought is bad enough after a nice long break but it will be more bearable knowing that this major piece of contstruction towards the Station redevelopment has been carried out and completed within the holiday period with minimum disrution to the public. Well done to all, including BR