Redhill Station - Extra Platform

[Adlington]

Heard something gone wrong with the improvement works

They became deterioration works

 

[tsr]

It's going to be shut until at least start of service tomorrow. Significant service alterations will occur throughout the evening, especially for northbound trains from the coast which call at Redhill later on, and for the Reigate and Tonbridge shuttles.

Following overnight works on the trackbed adjacent to the upcoming Platform 0, Network Rail and contractors have had to be called back to site after various parties raised serious concerns over the proximity of earthworks to the trackbed of Platform 1. These earthworks are only inches from the sleepers and the third rail of the Platform 1 line and some ballast has disappeared down a couple of very large holes. There are also miscellaneous bits of metal and masonry which may be too close to the third rail and would need to be removed before it's reopened.

A complete mess and one which is being investigated accordingly...

They became deterioration works

Indeed...

 

[tsr]

Update: I am advised there is likely to be an additional engineering possession through Redhill Platform 1 tonight, which should hopefully allow some input into fixing this problem.

 

[Ringpull]

I’m really not surprised at this news.

I took the train from Redhill this morning. There are literally a couple of inches between the conductor rail of platform 1 and a big trench that they’ve dug (where the trackbed for platform 0 would sit). It didn’t look structurally sound!

 

[tsr]

I’m really not surprised at this news.

I took the train from Redhill this morning. There are literally a couple of inches between the conductor rail of platform 1 and a big trench that they’ve dug (where the trackbed for platform 0 would sit). It didn’t look structurally sound!

Same opinion as a relative who passed through the station today. He's got rather a lot of building and structures experience, and has travelled on that route for over 25 years, and didn't think it looked too healthy.

I'm surprised nobody actually did (or had to do...) anything until mid-morning.

(Not guilty myself, honest Didn't even get to see it until lunchtime...)

 

[sarahj]

Work is coming along:

 

[Minstral25]

Work progressing yesterday

 

[Minstral25]

Going North too

 

[sarahj]

Still think loosing the link from Platform 1 to the up line is a mistake. Always handy, even if it just to dump something due to a fault or line issues. A move to the up will involve shunting down, across the junction's (so blocking them) and then back up. Madness.

 

[MarkyT]

Still think loosing the link from Platform 1 to the up line is a mistake. Always handy, even if it just to dump something due to a fault or line issues. A move to the up will involve shunting down, across the junction's (so blocking them) and then back up. Madness.

Making a move from the south into a through version of platform #1 would block a simultaneous movement in either direction at the north end of #2 due to overlap conflict. Simultaneous up moves from Reading to #1 and Gatwick to #2 would also be impossible. #1 couldn't be joined to the #0 line because the points would be part way along the new platform. Clear overlaps for both #1 and #2 would have required greater width of formation at the north end of the station and land acquisition isn't practical here due to proximity of housing and an access road. Making #1 a terminal road is not ideal but is a sensible compromise in the circumstances.

 

[Minstral25]

Except a lot of unused space between the platform and the properties has been left. In any case why would you have a move from Reading into #1 if #0 is the normal platform to turn round GWR trains.

AFAIK It wasn't done because of cost - extending platform 1/2 would be necessary (to clear the point at end of platform 1 to get to 0) and adjusting the footbridge probable. They way it has been done no works to either have been necessary to reduce cost but create an inconvenience for passengers. Trains swapping platforms last minute at Redhill is very common and the move from platform 2 to 0 when they swap is quite a distance to walk via the subway with 12 coach trains the norm.

 

[Minstral25]

Does anyone know if platform 0 at Redhill will be in use from tomorrow, or is just ready to be used from later in 2018?

 

[MarkyT]

Once #0 becomes the default for up trains, the incidence of last minute platform changes should drop dramatically as they will not be sharing a facility with the reversing trains. When a final layout at the south junction is constructed, using #1 for the reversers should eventually allow their onward departure towards Gatwick to take place at the same time as the next arrival from Gatwick into #0. Eventually I believe a south junction renewal will also remove the long crossover from #3 to the Reading line which will mean down trains from London to Reigate will have to use #2, a function for which the parallel junctions at the north end have now been laid out for. These trains will share #2 with Gatwick-Reading trains while the Reading-Gatwicks will routinely use #1 along with the stoppers on that route that terminate at Redhill.

 

[Minstral25]

If #0 becomes the default then a lot of very unhappy customers (as 2 is a much better place to wait with the information point and 2 waiting rooms) and a very unhappy coffee/newspaper franchise on platform 1/2 as they were not allowed to set up on platform 0 due to lack of space. Platform 0 looks bleak with little facilities currently.

AFAIK for now (speaking with GTR recently) the default Northbound platform will remain platform #2 with #0 used for coupling the Reigate to Victoria trains in the morning peak (plus possibly some off-peak services from Reigate as well) and overflow for GWR/Tonbridge the rest of the time. Obviously that may change if the south junction is improved but my understanding there is no budget even for design of this in CP6.

Platform 3 at Reigate is ahead as it is currently undertaking GRIP 3 (if that's the right term)

 

[MarkyT]

If #0 becomes the default then a lot of very unhappy customers (as 2 is a much better place to wait with the information point and 2 waiting rooms) and a very unhappy coffee/newspaper franchise on platform 1/2 as they were not allowed to set up on platform 0 due to lack of space. Platform 0 looks bleak with little facilities currently.

AFAIK for now (speaking with GTR recently) the default Northbound platform will remain platform #2 with #0 used for coupling the Reigate to Victoria trains in the morning peak (plus possibly some off-peak services from Reigate as well) and overflow for GWR/Tonbridge the rest of the time. Obviously that may change if the south junction is improved but my understanding there is no budget even for design of this in CP6.

Platform 3 at Reigate is ahead as it is currently undertaking GRIP 3 (if that's the right term)

I think you're right concerning short term platform utilisation with the interim layout as it is. I believe the south junction track components were only renewed a decade or so ago in the current form so it probably has another decade or so of life in it before it demands large scale renewals again, which would likely be the dominant budget contributor to any further reconfiguration work. One of the main PW maintenance headaches is the long diamond crossing from #3 over the through lines which gets heavily battered and worn particularly by higher speed traffic passing through and taking possession to repair these elements is also highly disruptive. Ideally a renewal would coincide with resignalling the whole station area so more comprehensive layout changes can be more easily accommodated and it is up to some enterprising analyst to justify any earlier implementation based on monetising the benefits of avoiding the maintenance costs and failure risks of the existing layout, but the north would stay as it is now clearly, just recontrolled by new interlocking. It's a long term plan and clearly customer facilities could be improved on #0 in the meantime. Its not impossible to add further raised slabs on stilts for retail/refreshment behind the platform as have already been constructed for the new passenger shelter. Note at the north junction in the current job the number of point ends has been more than halved, finally simplifying a truly 'steam age' layout that BR was forced to retain in the last resignalling (in the early 1980s I think) because a cash crisis removed the associated permanent way renewal budget to reconfigure it properly at the last minute. The new layout should be much easier and more economical to maintain, and more reliable to boot. GRIP 3 is option selection so the output should be a preferred single option for further development in GRIP 4.

 

[Sunset route]

Work is coming along:

My view of the works

 

[Sunset route]

Does anyone know if platform 0 at Redhill will be in use from tomorrow, or is just ready to be used from later in 2018?

The panel workings show platform 0 in use.

 

[Minstral25]

Correct - 2P09 left platform 0 this morning at 5:30 - not sure if this was first passenger train

 

[sarahj]

Sunset said 'My view of the works'.
I pinched them from a driver who posted them on facebook.

 

[OxtedSignaller]

Just out of pure interest does anyone know if Platform 0 has CD/RA indicators installed?

 

[Sunset route]

Just out of pure interest does anyone know if Platform 0 has CD/RA indicators installed?

Yes it does.

 

[Minstral25]

After a few days of usage it seems that Southern Trains from Reigate and Tonbridge going through to Victoria use platform 0, London Bridge and Thameslink trains use platform 2. However swapping platforms at last minute is very common (mostly with Victoria service) and yes passengers are not able to swap platforms in time and are missing their trains!

 

[infobleep]

After a few days of usage it seems that Southern Trains from Reigate and Tonbridge going through to Victoria use platform 0, London Bridge and Thameslink trains use platform 2. However swapping platforms at last minute is very common (mostly with Victoria service) and yes passengers are not able to swap platforms in time and are missing their trains!

Surely that s just encouraging passengers to run at stations and I thought there was a move to try and reduce this.

 

[Bald Rick]

After a few days of usage it seems that Southern Trains from Reigate and Tonbridge going through to Victoria use platform 0, London Bridge and Thameslink trains use platform 2. However swapping platforms at last minute is very common (mostly with Victoria service) and yes passengers are not able to swap platforms in time and are missing their trains!

Interesting. I was there the other day. Train announced on P0, and then swapped to P2 at the last moment. As I had time to spare, I made sure I was last off P0 and last on to P2 to see how many got left behind.

And the answer is none. Everyone made it.

 

[Sunset route]

Interesting. I was there the other day. Train announced on P0, and then swapped to P2 at the last moment. As I had time to spare, I made sure I was last off P0 and last on to P2 to see how many got left behind.

And the answer is none. Everyone made it.

There have been some teething problems with the re-wired Westpac RR interlocking, that are gradually being ironed out, but none have been total show stoppers so far (touch wood).

 

[infobleep]

Interesting. I was there the other day. Train announced on P0, and then swapped to P2 at the last moment. As I had time to spare, I made sure I was last off P0 and last on to P2 to see how many got left behind.

And the answer is none. Everyone made it.

How long G would it take to get from platform 2 to 0?

I know when last minute changes occur at Woking, there are times when you might miss the train if you didn't run. Of course eom usually coming off a connecting service, so that gives you even less time.

 

[zoneking]

I notice that Redhill Station is closed again this weekend. This is on top of the whole Christmas period and goodness how many weekends in 2017. I use Redhill station every weekend so am not happy. It means getting two buses to get to Reigate. The timing of the buses from Purley to go to Reigate is appalling, with the bus from Purley arriving one minute after the bus to Reigate leaves. It would be better if one bus per hour went from Purley to Reigate. Last year the bus to Reigate was late leaving one morning and the GWR train did not wait - I only just made it because I ran like the clappers. Very bad service to customers.

 

[Bald Rick]

How long G would it take to get from platform 2 to 0?

I know when last minute changes occur at Woking, there are times when you might miss the train if you didn't run. Of course eom usually coming off a connecting service, so that gives you even less time.

About a minute. Down one staircase, along a corridor for about 15 metres, up another staircase. Add in another minute for those waiting further up the platform.

 

[Bald Rick]

There have been some teething problems with the re-wired Westpac RR interlocking, that are gradually being ironed out, but none have been total show stoppers so far (touch wood).

Thought it might have been a temporary failure. The following train was also replatfromed. There was nothing else in the way that would have caused that to be necessary.

 

[Minstral25]

Interesting. I was there the other day. Train announced on P0, and then swapped to P2 at the last moment. As I had time to spare, I made sure I was last off P0 and last on to P2 to see how many got left behind.

And the answer is none. Everyone made it.

Excellent, and obviously fitter members of the public will always make it. However there have been several postings of people not making it, particularly in the peak where they are waiting at the front for 12 car services. Probably partly because of communication not being clear and people not being used to the problem.