Bridging The Gap

The much-anticipated regeneration of Reading railway station features 14 Stannah bespoke lifts to ensure the easy movement of people and goods to every platform of this multi-million structure. In summer 2012 a huge new passenger bridge, which was constructed alongside the station, was slid into position across the existing tracks. The new station concourse, which opened at Easter 2013, was cleverly created on this gigantic bridge that provides access to every part of the station. On entering the station from the north side there are two 20-person (1500kg) passenger/goods lifts providing travel to the elevated bridge area. A third matching lift travelling three stops, with a capacity of 20 persons (1500kg), is for staff use only and is operated by a swipe card system. At bridge level these lifts appear as a triplex, adjacent to the escalators. The bridge features a series of five central lift shafts running right across the concourse, each plinth housing two lifts; one for passenger use and a second that can be used by staff with goods too. The five 2-stop 16 person (1200kg) passenger lifts travel 12.7 metres to the platforms below. The five 2-stop 20-person (1500kg) staff/goods lifts travel 12.7 metres to and from service areas. An additional four 4-stop 16-person lift for staff use only sits in the corner of the bridge back of house for office staff. All the lifts are hydraulically driven and all fourteen motor rooms are housed on the entry level of the station on both the north and south sides of the station. Stannah engineers worked round the clock during an intense three-month period when ten lifts were installed simultaneously to meet deadlines for their clients, Principal Contractor Costain/Hochtief and Network Rail. Mark Jarratt, Project Manager for Stannah comments: “Working on the emerging new building, immediately adjacent to the existing and fully functioning station, was extremely demanding. The logistics and time constraints around the lift installations meant our efforts were 24/7 to meet the deadlines and open the new station to the public. The fully accessible station is on an impressive scale and our lifts are literally central to the day to day life of Reading Station.” All the Stannah lifting equipment at Reading is supplied with guarantees and will be maintained by the Brackley branch of Stannah Lift Services, covering South Midlands and Home Counties as part of the nationwide service and maintenance contract with Network Rail. – See more at: http://www.stannahlifts.co.uk/news-and-resources/news-centre/454/bridging-the-gap/#sthash.W9zNXbCs.dpuf