Talk:Reading–Basingstoke line

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This article lacks references.

The route diagram template for this article can be found in Template:Reading to Basingstoke.

The link to GreenPark.co.uk in the references section is no longer working. They appear to have removed the page. However, the location map on the GreenPark site does show the new Green Park station on the map (without stating that the station is not yet open).

Additionally, the external link named Basingstoke's railway history is also no longer working. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 212.84.178.34 (talk) 15:03, 27 April 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Infrastructure section

Quote: "It has a maximum tonnage of 15 tonnes". If this means axle load then it can't be right. The line is regularly used by Class 66s with an axle load exceeding 21 tonnes. Biscuittin (talk) 17:31, 20 December 2010 (UTC)[reply]

I agree, so I have removed the statement. Mock wurzel soup (talk) 14:26, 27 January 2018 (UTC)[reply]

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Reading West

The article claims that the station opening enabled long-distance trains to call at Reading without reversing in the the main station. However they are still doing so. Before the introduction of the Voyagers the trains were Class 47 hauled and they ran round the train, as presumably their steam forbears did. AFAIK the only trains to use the avoinding lines were and are freight services from Southampton to the Midlands and North, which wouldn't have called at Reading West anyway. Murgatroyd49 (talk) 19:06, 29 July 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Footnotes 4 and 5 to the article on Reading West station provide a reference in support of the assertion that the station was built to enable long distance trains to call at Reading without having to use the main station, and then reverse. Footnote 5 looks the more relevant of the two: I do not, however, have access to the book in order to check precisely what it says.

The only evidence that I have that the station was used for this purpose is in a July 1938 Bradshaw. It shows occasional trains from Oxford to the Portsmouth - Southampton area stopping at Reading West and NOT at Reading, so this would tend to support the assertion that this was the station's intended role. The fact that the station was not greatly used as an "avoiding station" for Reading does not detract from the fact that that may have been the original intention.

As a Reading resident, I can imagine that Reading West would not have been popular alternative to Reading (later Reading (General)) with travellers destined for Reading, particularly if they wished to change trains there. As the article says, it is very clearly outside the main town centre area. It was, however, on the main west-east (Tilehurst -Town Centre - Wokingham Road) tram and (later) trolleybus route, so it had some connectivity.

I have never within my memory heard of passenger trains normally using Reading West to avoid reversing at Reading, although when Reading Station was undergoing reconstruction in the early 2010s I did take a Cross-country train from Southampton which stopped at Reading West instead of Reading.Ntmr (talk) 14:29, 9 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]

Thanks for that comprehensive response, the Bradshaw reference would be useful a a supportive reference in the main article. Personal note: I nearly bought a house near Reading West station back in the 1970s! Murgatroyd49 (talk) 14:33, 9 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I have made a small amendment, and added the reference that you suggest. Strictly speaking we still lack a reference for the proposition that the inconvenience of a reversal at Reading became less of an issue with the introduction of DMUs. Perhaps it is just the commonsense conclusion to be drawn.

It's strange that you nearly purchased a house near Reading West!Ntmr (talk) 11:58, 10 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]

I was young and foolish!, OK now I'm old and foolish. Murgatroyd49 (talk) 12:01, 10 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]