Reading and Didcot

[5872]

Somtime this year im going to be taking a trip from Farnborugh to Reading and then HST to didcot , dose anyone know of good spotting locations at the two stations and on a HST Ive never been on a HST before :toothy8: :blob: I can't wait to go :

Reading:



Didcot:




HST:


COuld anyone feel the gaps on where the best places to go are?

 

[Daniel]

Don't know its number, but the London end of the FGW platform next to the SWT Reading - Basingstoke platforms is good, especially for some shots of London bound HSTs.

 

[Tom]

That is platform 4.

Platform 4a, 4b are the Windsor line platforms at Reading.

 

[LucaZone]

Windsor Line at Reading???

There are no trains that go to Windsor from Reading Maybe you mean the Winnersh or Waterloo platforms. The closest those trains get to Windsor is Staines.

Good places at Reading include the West end of Platform 4,5,8,9, or the east end of Platform 4. Make sure you check with staff though, FGW are very touchy these days about people loitering.

Didcot - Go to the footbridge at the end of platform 1 (about 100yards up the track), get some great views of the yard, and all trains coming through Didcot.

For the Avoiding line, as well as any train to/from Oxford, head on foot to the northern tip of the Triangle, there is another footbridge directly over the junction and you can get some amazing shots of trains coming roudn the avoiding line heading north or south:

http://images2.fotopic.net/?iid=y4jn80&noresize=1&nostamp=1&quality=70

 

[Coxster]

Why are you coming to Farnborough?! Would it not be easier to go to Reading from Teddington with a simple change at Twickenham? Much easier than Teddington - Clapham- Farnborough Main - walk to North - Reading. Or even go into London from Teddington and do the full Paddington to Didcot run.

Windsor Line at Reading???
There are no trains that go to Windsor from Reading Maybe you mean the Winnersh or Waterloo platforms. The closest those trains get to Windsor is Staines.

I think he means the Waterloo line which, when closer to London, is classified as the Windsor lines.

 

[Tom]

I call them the Windsor lines all the way through.

 

[5872]

Why are you coming to Farnborough?! Would it not be easier to go to Reading from Teddington with a simple change at Twickenham? Much easier than Teddington - Clapham- Farnborough Main - walk to North - Reading. Or even go into London from Teddington and do the full Paddington to Didcot run.


I think he means the Waterloo line which, when closer to London, is classified as the Windsor lines.

Im driving to staines and picking other fred up and we then drive to farborugh and park at my dads friends house and then WALK to Farnborugh North and get a 166 or 165 to Reading then spend 10 or 20 mins at reading and then get my first HST trip to didcot and then spend a 1 hour and abit at didcot and then come back to do another hour at reading and get a 166 to FN and drive home:walk:

 

[thefab444]

Heh, you really want a nice long bash through to Cardiff or Bristol...

Bristol is a good station, I suggest you visit there one day, if you can get Daddy to agree?

 

[5872]

Heh, you really want a nice long bash through to Cardiff or Bristol...

Bristol is a good station, I suggest you visit there one day, if you can get Daddy to agree?

Stop it JDS stop mocking me not my fault my dad is always busy!

 

[richa2002]

Im driving to staines and picking other fred up and we then drive to farborugh and park at my dads friends house and then WALK to Farnborugh North and get a 166 or 165 to Reading then spend 10 or 20 mins at reading and then get my first HST trip to didcot and then spend a 1 hour and abit at didcot and then come back to do another hour at reading and get a 166 to FN and drive home:walk:

Blimey, why are you so excited?!

 

[5872]

Blimey, why are you so excited?!

Ive never been on a HST!!! but nowi am :love7: :rabbit:

 

[Coxster]

Blimey, why are you so excited?!

Because he is going to the hometown of a legendary person...

 

[nath9425]

I might be going! god help me! Only Jokin! I need advice what ticket should I get to go from Banbury - Reading -Didcot - Reading- Banbury

 

[Tom]

Banbury - Reading, Reading - Didcot?

 

[nath9425]

Banbury -Reading Virgin Reading -Didcot FGW Didcot - Reading FGW Reading Banbury VIRGIN

 

[Tom]

Yes... I'm telling you the RTN combo you need.

 

[thefab444]

Try something like Banbury - Goring & Streatley.

 

[5872]

Try something like Banbury - Goring & Streatley.

Why? Is that possible?

 

[thefab444]

If you bought a Banbury to Goring & Streatley, or Banbury to Cholsey ticket, it might allow you to either change at Reading or Oxford. Handily, the trains which run from Oxford to Goring/Cholsey happen to stop at Didcot, so you can stop off there for a bit, then go on to Reading. And back on a Voyager.

 

[yorkie]

If you bought a Banbury to Goring & Streatley, or Banbury to Cholsey ticket, it might allow you to either change at Reading or Oxford. Handily, the trains which run from Oxford to Goring/Cholsey happen to stop at Didcot, so you can stop off there for a bit, then go on to Reading. And back on a Voyager.

I really don't think a ticket to Cholsey is going to be accepted to Reading. It's not valid because it's doubling back, which is forbidden except in the case of group stations for interchange (see RG) or where an easement exists (see RG again).

The only easement that may be of use is this:

"Journeys via Swindon and Didcot or via Swindon to Didcot and routed Not London may double back between Reading and Didcot. This easements applies in both directions."


So, for example, you can use a ticket from Chippenham to Oxford via Reading. Although the "Not Reading" fares are considerably cheaper....

You can double back if it's sensible to do so - the RG doesn't quite allow for all sensible doubling back possiblities, but given the distance involved in this case, and given the good connections available at Oxford, I don't see any justification. Saying that, some guards will be fine with it though.

Edit: While Cholsey is no use, Goring does have a "Reading" route option, which explicity permits doubling back via Reading. This is a few pence more than a ticket to Reading.

 

[5872]

Ok....I hope its going to be a good day HSt!

 

[nath9425]

I really don't think a ticket to Cholsey is going to be accepted to Reading. It's not valid because it's doubling back, which is forbidden except in the case of group stations for interchange (see RG) or where an easement exists (see RG again).

The only easement that may be of use is this:

"Journeys via Swindon and Didcot or via Swindon to Didcot and routed Not London may double back between Reading and Didcot. This easements applies in both directions."


So, for example, you can use a ticket from Chippenham to Oxford via Reading. Although the "Not Reading" fares are considerably cheaper....

You can double back if it's sensible to do so - the RG doesn't quite allow for all sensible doubling back possiblities, but given the distance involved in this case, and given the good connections available at Oxford, I don't see any justification. Saying that, some guards will be fine with it though.

Edit: While Cholsey is no use, Goring does have a "Reading" route option, which explicity permits doubling back via Reading. This is a few pence more than a ticket to Reading.

I didn't really understand a word of that! :glasses6:

 

[5872]

Sorry , Quick hop off topic anyone seeing the kettle on the 6th ?

 

[devon_metro]

No, are you making tea? 2 Sugars please.

 

[5872]

No, are you making tea? 2 Sugars please.

(exssagiation ignored) 71000 Paddington -Bristol I shall be on a HST or at Didcot when I see it!:angel7:

 

[tedted]

Somtime this year im going to be taking a trip from Farnborugh to Reading and then HST to didcot , dose anyone know of good spotting locations at the two stations and on a HST Ive never been on a HST before :toothy8: :blob: I can't wait to go :

Reading:



Didcot:




HST:


COuld anyone feel the gaps on where the best places to go are?

ARE YOU SURE that you want to make your first HST journey on First Great Western?! From what I've heard of them, the experience will probably put you off HSTs for life! :toothy8: Midland Mainline's good, but they don't go where you're going.

 

[devon_metro]

ARE YOU SURE that you want to make your first HST journey on First Great Western?! From what I've heard of them, the experience will probably put you off HSTs for life! :toothy8: Midland Mainline's good, but they don't go where you're going.

What is wrong with fGW old HSTs?

 

[5872]

What is wrong with fGW old HSTs?

excatly! I know there getting old but still a HST is a HST except when they get MTU well only FGW and GNER!rofiler:

 

[devon_metro]

Tell me what is wrong with the MTU? It's quiet, big woop get over it and get a life :roll:

 

[thefab444]

Got times for the Kettle, Fred.


No you can't have them. :P

Interestingly, if MML had replaced all their HSTs with 222/9s, then GC would probably not be using Vals. And if the MML PCs had gone to FGW/GNER they would've been MTUerised. So only the NR ones left.