Reading Green Park Station is Now Open

There's a brand new station open on the National Rail network. Welcome to Reading Green Park! Which takes the station count up to a total of 2,575. So I met up with Dan at Reading to take a ride on the branch line down to Basingstoke to see the new station and have a look around the local area ...
The T-Shirt and more Merch are available from : dztz.co.uk/
Jen's video on the first train on opening day : • Riding the FIRST train...

[@geofftech2]

So what's it to be ... Gwurbo, or Churbo? You must decide!!

[@Dani331]

GWRbo is better geoff

[@Emily_20095]

Definatly Gwurbo!

[@Dani331]

@@Emily_20095 definitely GWRbo

[@Dani331]

​@@steve.b.23yes I agree with GWRbo

[@tfl780]

GWURBO definitely

[@katrinabryce]

I think people who live in Reading will continue to take the bus to the stadium, because there's loads of different football bus routes and there is likely one that goes near your house. People arriving from outside of Reading by train, eg away fans, will probably find it more convenient to change trains at Reading. But to answer your question, the bus takes about 15 minutes from the station to the stadium, depending on traffic, and traffic can be very busy on match days. The train takes 7 minutes + walking time at the other end.

[@mst4309]

In the sunny 2020 lockdown I cycled into Green Park so many times (what a nice space) and have seen the blocked off construction site of the newest bit including the station. So glad to finally have a new one in my local area. Reading I think has some of the UK’s most convenient public transport for a town of its size.

[@westlondontransportwildlif5810]

The line from Reading to Basingstoke is one of my favourites for a few reasons. 1: it's such a handy connection between two major routes (GW & SW), 2: It's a very pretty line with great views particularly after leaving Reading and travelling between Reading Green Park and Basingstoke, 3: Mortimer and Bramley are very pretty stations and Mortimer has grade 2 listed buildings and 4: the countryside walks around Mortimer and Bramley are great and worth doing.

[@dielangenase]

Bramley has an incredible bakery right next to the station too. Love it when I am working in the Bramley area

[@paulshorney3465]

@@dielangenase certainly has! 👍

[@HakanKoseoglu]

​@@dielangenase if you arrive late on Thursdays, you can have a great fish and chips at Bramley station, although must say it is not the cheapest!

[@peterd788]

I grew up in Bramley in the days you could get the Thumper trains and on Sundays trains all the way to Portsmouth Harbour.

[@MervynPartin]

Interesting film continuity! Dan gets in lift, Geoff starts walking down stairs. Dan reaches bottom of stairs, Geoff gets out of lift. Have you joined the Magic Circle yet, Geoff?

[@matpk]

Should Lea Bridge Station Line transfer to Overground❓

[@highpath4776]

Pity about them station names. Reading, Righting and Rithmatic would have been better

[@petercotton89]

"None cos its a bank holiday" Exactly what I was muttering to myself just before Dan said it 😂 Edit: So glad you called the stadium the Mad Stad not "The select car leasing stadium".

[@PokhrajRoy.]

“None…because it’s a bank holiday.” ENDED ME 😂

[@theproclubsany]

I’m going to be that guy unfortunately, you can travel through Ryde Pier Head, Ryde Esplanade and Ryde St Johns Road consecutively! Only joking, love the content!

[@geofftech2]

No that’s a good shout, of course! Thank you!!

[@Helen-12]

@@geofftech2 don't forget Exeter also Geoff St Davids,St Thomas, Central and St James's park

[@johnpowell5433]

@@geofftech2: What about three consecutive stations with the last word 'PARK'? Raynes Park, Motspur Park, and Worcester Park. 😁

[@DevonBadman]

Big up the IOW! You also have Clapham North|Common|South on the Northern Line.

[@theproclubsany]

@@DevonBadman Sick of living here…

[@daveherbert6215]

The use of Connecticut, Maine etc street/road as a naming convention is surely a marketing ploy to give a new property development a bit of character. Just think of the tube stations and the names that they were given because no name previously existed. ❤

[@johnd6487]

It's not uncommon to name streets on a new estate to a theme. The estate built onto the edge of my little East Midlands commuter town is known as Compton Acres and the road names are largely based on place names in the South West. This lead to some correspondence between my local council and a Somerset based second cousin when, while on a visit, she noticed that they'd named a road Blanford instead of Blandford. It's nothing new, my own little enclave built either side of WW2 is known as the Wolds Estate and has roads named after towns in the Leicestershire Wolds.

[@daveherbert6215]

@@johnd6487 I'm In London there exists the White City estate. It has various roads named after areas of the commonwealth i.e. Bloemfontein Rd, South Africa Rd, Canada Way, India Way, Australia Rd etc. Why the council chose the theme of the I know not. The reason why it is called the White City estate is due to the fact that in the 1890s there was an exhibition built of white marble hence the name

[@johnmatthews5810]

This something of a tradition in Reading. There is an estate to the north of Reading wih entirely Welsh street names (although badly spelt).

[@alanrobertson7217]

I was involved with the initial stages of the Green Park development and there was always land reserved for a new station. I retired 13 years ago so it is great to see it finally built. They never built the link road from green park to kings heath meadow.

[@stevepeacock4265]

comical that its taken so long. typical public sector. In that same, several private sector telecoms companies have built and operated 4 generations of mobile network (2G/3G/4G/5G). No wonder we waste so much money in the public sector (too much faffing about especially in meetings, red tape, laziness). 23 years to plan/design/build just ONE station is not an achievement. Should be an inquiry to undesrtand why its taken so long and why so much money has been wasted.

[@ldmfan]

Coming from Southampton, I used this station for football on Saturday, Women’s Super League, Reading (being relegated) vs. Chelsea (winning title). They displayed posters saying that a queueing system may be necessary due to the event. They didn’t need to bother as the attendance for Women’s football is lower and I suspect many didn’t know it had opened. I certainly saw more train fans than football fans. It’ll be interesting to see how well it copes next season, in League One!

[@maryamfirdousahmed4847]

I did some digging to try and find out about the American houses cos it was bugging me haha. Apparently no real reason the housing estate is called “green park village.” Supposedly the “cookie cutter” (Geoff Marshall trademarked) are modelled from New England homes. That’s about it! Maybe there is some history but my results were fruitless.

[@graemecairns9780]

Bank Holiday comment was awesome

[@kiranbahra]

As a Reading fan, I am going to continue with the bus - sometimes I walk to the main station and sometimes I get a train from Oxford, but what I've worked out is that for a 3pm kick off, you'd have to get the 14:07 train from Reading, whereas on the bus you can usually join the queue between 14:20 and 14:30 to get to the game about 15 mins before it starts - plus, on the way back, you'd have to wait about 25 mins for the train once reaching the station since it isn't very well timed. It'll be most useful for any Reading fans who live to the south, from the Basingstoke area.

[@robblissism]

Seems to be the way of the world for new stations by stadia. Same at the CBS Arena in Cov...except we only get 1 train an hour on a Saturday and it's 2 carriages. Even the one after 6pm is like Tokyo rush hour.

[@turtlewhohatescabbage1157]

As a German football fan I am horrified by the thought of only arriving at the stadium 15 mins before kick off.

[@robblissism]

@@turtlewhohatescabbage1157 We have better pubs in England 😝

[@turtlewhohatescabbage1157]

@@robblissism yeah we have our beers on the way to the stadium on the busses and trains. I won't get into the discussion if your pubs or our "Kneipe" is the better ones tho. :D Both are good enough to destroy a man's liver!

[@kiranbahra]

@@turtlewhohatescabbage1157 I personally don't drink beer, so there's not as much point in me being there early for that

[@caitlinmcclare1271]

Just as a side note. Catch the right TPE service out of Huddersfield and stop at Manchester Victoria, Manchester Oxford Road, Manchester Piccadilly and Manchester Airport .... Can you beat that??

[@DanLoudShirts]

Are they all in succession or are there other twiddly bits in between?

[@Nimmo1492]

I'm loving all the new stations we're getting now

[@Martyn2021]

The house remind me of the Moomin house in Finland, and the more I see of the station is most definitely a mix of mid 80s architecture and modernist colour schemes

[@edwardmills6456]

Someone at GWR send Geoff a gift bag for such a positive video telling people to use THIS station of Reading Green Park

[@LeornianCyng]

New stations are brilliant but holy sh……smokes we need better architects. Wish the station matched the surrounding area including the lake and those gorgeous houses.

[@magicknight8412]

As someone who used to work in Green Park, Reading this is such a long awaited well needed station. Glad it has finally come and also with housing with it.

[@davidlynch5748]

The housing in the American section of Green Park looks much closer to American architecture than the standard British pebble-dashed semi-detached. There's something a bit martimey about the architecture, as well -- those balconies with the gleaming white railings are something you'd see more on a row of houses in a beach town than an inland suburb like Reading. Although it's entirely possible, given that this is often the case when you take the average of "American" and "British", that it looks quite Canadian as well.

[@tonys1636]

How can they be called stations, they are halts as have no staff or facilities apart from toilets. No refreshment facilities or proper waiting rooms. Come on Network Rail start building proper stations with all the facilities that the travelling public need. Even if just one staffed ticket office and a lone porter/platform staff member to assist passengers that need some help, we can't all lug a heavy suitcase on and off a train. No staff is a safety hazard, CCTV can't render immediate assistance if someone has a heart attack or an accident.

[@tonys1636]

@@geofftech2 Thanks for the clarification, thought when you mentioned the staff gave you the badges I thought that they were there for you so it got a good revue. Still doesn't resolve the lack of proper infrastructure that these new 'halts' have. A few hours spent in the wind and rain in winter because one's train is repeatedly cancelled and one starts to look for a different route. British Railways and BR had their problems but one always had a waiting room and if lucky someone had lit the fire or turned the heating on. There was a friendly porter or staff member/ticket clerk, a manned barrier staff member who would actually say what had gone wrong (and sell tickets when the office was closed) as a signalman had rung the station to inform them. Privatisation sucks, the rest of Europe (most of) the Railways are semi state companies with the Govt. and appointed shareholders having the major shareholding and control. They also run to the published timetable, with few cancellations or delays, even here.

[@davidstone408]

Geoff - firstly whilst the station officially opened on Saturday, the Mayor of Reading - Opened the station on Friday - perhaps he could not make Saturday (bit of a muppet). All the press have been doing the "for the football stadium" but no better to get a bus from the town centre. MadStad is now the SCL - changed last year. ( I park at work - we moved to our business to south Reading and yes the Stadium location was considered) - Still think Reading needs a Reading East Station (Thames Valley Business Park - they is a Park & Ride - on Elizabeth Line - would make sense)

[@alastairfulbrook1285]

There have been many studies on a station at Thames Valley Park. Sadly Network Rail won't allow it to be built, due to capacity concerns.

[@tomwantshelp]

There is a Reading East, it’s called Earley! Jokes aside, something halfway to Twyford at around TVBP might make sense, but it has excellent bus connections already.

[@coolkid05]

If you're off to football, it's so much easier to use Green Park if you're coming from Basingstoke direction. If you're not, then it's probably better to use the bus on match days. I'm a Basingstoke based RFC season ticket holder, so it's Green Park for me next season.

[@rayamos1398]

Geoff is correct - Green Park Village is an American "New England" style development, hence the street names being New England states, lakes, etc. Bit poncy, but I think it's good, completely different to other soulless new housing developments. In terms of the time to get to the stadium, I think (but could be wrong) the intention is to have shuttle buses from the station so people don't have to walk the mile through Green Park. I've been waiting for this station since I moved into Green Park Village in 2016, it's an absolute godsend.

[@youdevvy]

As a Reading local, the bus from Reading (central) station to the Madejski Stadium will probably continue to be quicker - mainly because Reading are relegated to League 1 and correspondingly the crowds will be smaller. That said, even in the same league, the bus would probably have been quicker *to* the stadium during pre-match, but *after* the match when you have thousands of people all trying to leave within a few minutes of each other, the train would probably be quicker. I've waited 20-30 minutes just to get on buses after matches, so the train is probably quicker for leaving after a match - especially if you're travelling onwards outside Reading.

[@bachtehude2437]

In Exeter you can also travel through three consecutive stations starting with the same word - Exeter Central, St David's, St Thomas

[@stakebuster]

Just came here to say the same thing. Paignton to Exmouth line, also GWR.

[@davidkimmins8781]

Watford High Street, Junction and North (though you would have to change).

[@tomwantshelp]

Pretty sure there must be a few examples just on the Tube - for example, the Claphams on the Northern Line.

[@aeronautic2374]

Every time Geoff encounters a lift (2:25), the button-pressing becomes more and more vehement!

[@LeoStarrenburg]

Wow, that was 42 secondes of commercial before I can see trains, a new record for me. Looks like KZbin is gearing up it's 'get (i.e. pay for) add-free YouYube" campaign :( That said it was worth the wait, a particular bristling and bubling video from Mr. Marshall 👍👍

[@matthewsmith9624]

Dan's shirt is fantastic!!

[@Ass_Burgers_Syndrome]

When Dan took of his sung;lasses I was half expecting him to have a smaller pair of sunglasses on underneath like Rex Kramer in Airplane lol

[@paulsengupta971]

Yep!

[@DanLoudShirts]

One of my favourite films. Boy did I pick the wrong week to appear in a KZbin video!

[@asac159]

GWURBO and Braisingsteak. Useful line this one especially when SWR has landslips near the Hants/Surrey border.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

7:45 No offense to the architects but yikes and immediately no.

[@Clavichordist]

The streets are named after New England states. New Hampshire and Maine are north of where I live and Connecticut is South. The houses are in the Victorian style also found in Canada, named after Queen Victoria who reigned during the period the houses were designed. Victorian houses range from simple cottages such as this to very, very fancy ornate mansions. We have boring names here in New England such as Reading, Amesbury, Gloucester, Hastings, Portland, Berwick, Bangor, Worcester, Truro, Halifax, just to name a bunch.

[@BigBirdCEO]

I'm a local, and we live in Reading town centre. My partner is type 2 diabetic, and he has to attend his eye tests at Green park. I'm very happy this station now exists.

[@Mattie1979]

I'm also type 2 diabetic and I, too, had a DES in Green Park

[@YoGemmy]

I'm a local to Reading! I work at Green Park and it's so funny to see my favourite KZbinr in my home town! Nice work Geoff!

[@Thecrazyvaclav]

Somewhere somebody is missing a pair of curtains from their caravan, dans made them into a shirt.

[@DanLoudShirts]

Just living up to my Twitter Handle! I love rancid looking clothing. I also own golf trousers that should come with an epilepsy warning.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

Dan and Geoff are dressed for two different outings lol

[@LostsTVandRadio]

I'm still not reconciled to travelling on GWuRbos or Churbos. They remind me of the terrible old days of Thames Trains.

[@whitelined2]

What an awful looking new station - makes you wonder why it's taken so long to build something that looks so utilitarian, I'm quite disappointed. The housing and station of green park are an abject failure. The business park works ok though.

[@gerrymckenna4878]

I imagine that platform indicator welded / stuck onto the stair bannister @ 3:10 will cause a few people to catch their hands. Not a good design.

[@Dankster5000]

Geoff you can do polls on your community section, as well as post written updates about anything you like, youTube has pretty robust interaction features between viewers and creators

[@DMVRailfan]

And I was just watching this series an hour ago. Nice to see Reading has a new train station, even if I can't see it.

[@PokhrajRoy.]

1:16 Well, it’s standard procedure for glass wearers.

[@TicTacTrolleyServiceTico]

Did I seriously miss the opportunity to meet you in person?? Damn! Still im glad you enjoyed the new Reading station as did myself! 👍

[@a11oge]

I was there on the Saturday, and where was @geoffmarshall....

[@rosemarywarner6759]

Unused accessible loo but the alarm pull cord is still tied up- they should dangle all the way to the floor in case someone falls down and needs help!

[@GraemeBray]

The Canadians watching will be thinking of comedy The Red Green Show. Built as one of their weird handyman projects and wondering where all the duct tape might be. If the women do not think of you as being handsome, they should at least find you as being handy!

[@SouthWalesTrainSpotter]

Cardiff parkway is also coming in 2025 hopefully I can see you there if you do go (work has just began on the station as the line between cardiff and Newport (South Wales) has just shut but not all the time I think it’s like once a week during the day it’s shut and then the line shuts earlier in the night to continue work

[@SkeletonSyskey]

"None, Cos it's a bank holiday."

[@openbabel]

This is a standard bridge you will find at ascot station......why dont you tell the viewers about the proposed railway line from surrey heath throuh chobham to woking ? It was the railway that never was..

[@darranhebert]

Thank you for the sunglasses-over-glasses tip!

[@mikehindson-evans159]

Fascinating as always - keep on filming, guys. Much appreciated. Mike

[@alexdavis5766]

The disabled toilet is breaking the law though as the red emergency pull cord is tied up and not touching the floor!

[@saraclayton-smithson5083]

I go round untying them whenever we come across one and hopefully it stays that way……

[@benwilliams5683]

Another group of station with the same word three times is Liverpool Lime Street, Liverpool Central and Liverpool James Street on the Wirral Line

[@kingcal53]

Reading local here, we refer to Basingstoke as Blazingsmoke...

[@fernbedek6302]

That ‘American Part’ looks a lot like modern Canadian suburbia. High density but still very suburbia.

[@neilcrawford8303]

Does that mean you'll be heading to Merseyside soon to visit station 2576 when the new Headbolt Lane station opens on Merseyrail's route from Liverpool and Northern's from Wigan Wallgate?

[@Arghans]

Why an earth are there no seats either in the entrance or the platforms given the service isn't that regular. You'll have passengers sitting on the steps.

[@RTPeat]

Great to see Reading Green Park finally opened after getting bogged down in an argument amongst the Berkshire councils over whether to put a station there, or further down as part of a new town south of the motorway at Grazely. As far as I’m aware the “New England Inspired” houses at Green Park Village are just marketing - did seem a bit odd when they started building those, especially so isolated from the rest of Reading on the far side of the business park. Better now it has some shops, a school and the station.

[@sarahschrock3511]

As an American living in Reading a decade or so ago I would go to Costco when I was feeling homesick for the States. So maybe Costco inspired a doubling down on that with the steet names and townhouses...

[@johndevine2868]

The streets in the new housing development have a New England naming theme, with the streets not named after states (Rhode Island yet to be built?) named after places in New England.

[@sr6424]

I visited the stadium as an away fan a few years ago. The bus service was incredibly well put together. There were buses parked to all parts of Reading. There was a line of buses going to the main station. Once everyone was on they left in a line headed by a police escort. Arriving really quickly.

[@HenrysAdventures]

Great video! You had to be there early on Saturday to get the goody bags, I got there at about 11am and they had all gone by then. I also departed on 165113, a winning unit for me. That leaves me with just Two Class 165s I need to travel on to complete the class.

[@a11oge]

I was told on the Saturday, by the very helpful and friendly GWR staff, that they expect the station not only to be used by people working in the Green Park offices, but also by those living in 'Little USA' who wish to take the 7 minute ride to Reading Central and maybe onto Paddington or Waterloo, or the West

[@armstrongleworthy5420]

Not Reading Central - nowadays just plain Reading. Used to be Reading General up to the early 60s/70s Shame they haven’t electrified the line to Basingstoke - either 25kv AC overhead or 750v DC 3rd rail.

[@matpk]

@@armstrongleworthy5420 Should Lea Bridge Station Line transfer to Overground❓

[@kingboy76]

Don't forget, White Rose, between Leeds and Morley, is also due later this year, as well as the others you listed. And nearby Cottingley will become an abandoned station at the same time. It's all go here in sunny West Yorkshire

[@orientalmoons]

It's not confirmed yet if White Rose will be completed in 2023 I think. I've been watching it being built from our office window in the business park. There's platforms now but the station buildings don't exist, nor a way to get from ground level to the platforms. Going to be a lot of stairs I reckon, hope the lifts don't go out of action as much as the ones at Wakefield Westgate! What I can't work out is how access is going to work. The business park is barrier controlled for vehicle entry so I assume that car parking is going to be on the other side of the line from the business park and shopping centre. But with pedestrian access to the platforms from both sides I think? I assume that pedestrian access to the business park won't be restricted so I wonder if we'll see lots of foot traffic through our car park of lost people trying to go shopping!

[@davidemmott6225]

Headbolt Lane on Merseyrail looks ready for opening soon, too.

[@rayob9131]

Geoff, thanks for sharing this vid a few days ahead of my own first visit to Reading Green Park. The station looks perfectly fine for that location and is a neat design with good facilities. I would say, though, that the forecourt bus stops are devoid of any form of shelter (bar the station entrance) which, in inclement weather or indeed on scorching summer days, may be uncomfortable and even unhealthy for waiting passengers. One point not mentioned, at 12.30 on your vid you can see the emergency exit pathway running the length of platform 2 (Reading bound platform on LHS of image) which, presumably, has been provided in case football crowds need to be evacuated - good idea. Also the unit I took from Reading to Reading Green Park had not yet had the PIS updated and did not show the new station. On the return there was yet another crass announcement where the “on board traincrew” thanked everyone for travelling - presumably the “on board” bit is to distinguish between any gratitude shown by traincrew in the messroom or those who have not yet signed on duty…………..Geoff, there must be masses of material about announcements, posters, signs etc to make a lengthy vid! You make a very good point about how the addition of a stop can bust a diagram, a point I think is often overlooked by those pressing for new stations or additional stops to be added to the WTT. I had a quick look at SX and SO timings and at the Basingstoke end there are generous turnround times whereas at Reading it is a little tighter - around 8-15 minutes; Sundays need a driver with running shoes as, typically, the time at Basingstoke is 3 minutes and Reading 5 minutes so there is some vulnerability there. Moreover, with the use of EMUs on the B&H there is not the option, for example, for a Reading arrival to form a Newbury departure and vice versa.

[@EWSTrains]

Hi Geoff, Thanet Parkway is due to Open on the 31st July 2023, I’m glad to say that the Network South East Stall that you met at Acton will be there maybe selling some special Thanet Parkway merch 👍 Great video, very green 🟢

[@littlemissgiggles165]

as a local i would do football bus but i don't go to football normally. thanks for showing how far the station is to the stadium as it shows it is a bit of a trek to costco from the station.

[@bobbythomas200420032]

A great video Geoff i really enjoyed it so much nice to see brand new station and what a surprise all the street names near by are USA. Those houses do look very American indeed.

[@moontravellerjul]

re: cancelling trains, i don’t know for certain but i’m pretty sure heaps of the buses and trains in Brisbane (Australia) run late and cancel the next ones due to that same kind of cascading effect. I often got the impression that was the process when my transit just didn’t show up until the following time slot.

[@petehackney1466]

Hi Geoff, looking forward to seeing your Marsh Barton video. If it's a nice day take a walk to the Double Locks pub for refreshments a 10-15 min walk along the canal away from the city. Cross the bridge over the canal from the station. Def worth a visit. Managed to get a shot of a GWR train at the station but just passing through. Station announcements are working but only telling you to stand back from the edge. Great videos, carry on the good work.

[@davidpiper3652]

Nice switch in the lifts.

[@Rosa-lv8yw]

Those anti-homeless seats are a disgrace.

[@unclenolly3207]

Are you planning on revisiting these new stations to view the user figures? Great video content 👍

[@shodan2958]

Seems a genuinely useful station to open and will hopefully result in less car journeys in the long term.🤞

[@bobg56]

"I often dream of trains when I'm alone I ride on them into another zone I dream of them constantly Heading for paradise, or Basingstoke or Reading" -Robyn Hitchcock

[@MichaelSebastianTodd]

brilliant Reading Green park looks amazing & ill be visiting the station in the next few weeks and in the week GWR uses 3 trains on the line back in the day they used to use 2 but they changed it as i think the turnaround was quite tight and with 3 trains they now have more turnaround time at Reading & Basingstoke

[@butler1233]

"you can now travel through 3 consecutive stations with the same first word" This isn't a new thing though. You've been able to do that on the Liverpool loop for years, depending on particular you are about the names: Liverpool Lime Street Liverpool Central Liverpool James Street (though the first and last are often referred to without the "Liverpool" prefix)

[@davidemmott6225]

Liverpool Moorfields too as I've heard it referred to. But as you say, the only one that invariably takes 'Liverpool' is Central, to distinguish it from Birkenhead C.

[@michellecardwell6191]

I was there on Sunday and someone did a poop in the toilets

[@highpath4776]

If it replaced a previously closed station would it have been Re-Adding ?

[@SamsVlogstrainsmore]

It’s Great to see the New Reading Green Park Now open.

[@sparkyprojects]

There are 3 green park(ing) spaces ;)

[@aidanfolkes]

As someone who lives at one of the intermediate stations on this line, I can atest to GWRs "solution" to late running trains is to run nonstop to Basingstoke. On weekdays they have an extra third unit paid for by Reading Borough Council, which means longer turnarounds off peak and extra services at peak.

[@s_grib]

The other place you can travel through 3 stations with the same first name is Ardrossan- Ardrossan Harbour, Ardrossan Town and Ardrossan South Beach

[@10reubenl]

Three stations starting with the same word, you could already do it on the Northern line. Clapham North, Clapham Common, Clapham South 0:47

[@Dale_Miller]

Also Barry Docks, Barry, Barry Island

[@A-Trainspotter-From-Berkshire]

@@Dale_Miller Also Ryde Pier Head, Ryde Esplanade and Ryde St Johns Road.

[@BastiaanLuytjes]

In countries where it is pretty much common for station names to begin with the place they are in, three in a row isn't special at all. For instance in the Dutch city Almere you have Almere Poort, Almere Muziekwijk, Almere Centrum, Almere Parkwijk, Almere Buiten and Almere Oostvaarders.

[@10reubenl]

@@BastiaanLuytjes That’s ridiculous 😅 Confusing lol

[@BastiaanLuytjes]

@@10reubenl Not necessarily. It depends on what you're used to. I think stations that are called just "University" or "London Road" aren't very clear either ;-)

[@glenncooney3959]

Nice to hear the late Phil Sayer continues to live on in the lifts. I’ve been on a Gwurbo, but never a Churbo. Definitely need to though

[@AbsoluteTVYT]

The lift announcer isn't Phil, sadly. It's just a generic male voice.

[@cv01jw]

Churbo

[@LiftsAndElevatorsOfScandinavia]

It's nice to see how the area around the new station has expanded since 2009. I think this will definitely be a benefit to people going to the stadium

[@markovermeer1394]

Although I understand that standardization of station designs has its advantages, I do not see the benefit of using overpasses instead of underpasses everywhere. For instance, the Dutch common set-up is having is foot and bike path wide passing under with stairs and elevators getting up. This immediately gives bikes and pedestrians a new connection between town on both sides of tracks: tracks tend to hinder "slow traffic" social contact over considerable distances. I think to have seen mostly underpasses in other countries. Any unexpected advantages for overpasses?

[@GrahamMacdonald-w9o]

The UK attitude towards bicycles and railway stations is a bit variable and can be difficult, especially if you are trying to change trains with a bicycle. I have memories of carrying my bike up two sets of stairs in Glasgow Central and, before it was rebuilt, carrying my bike up the many steps from the platform to the gangway across the top at Birmingham New Street and then carrying it down again to another platform. Every Scotrail train has space for bicycles but taking a bike on trains in England is sometimes difficult and occasionally not allowed, depending on where you are and the time of day. I can only think that the overpasses are cheaper to build than underpasses.

[@markovermeer1394]

@@GrahamMacdonald-w9o What I meant to express was that we combine the underpass for railway use with a generic connection for bikes and pedestrians under the tracks.

[@oversizetraveller]

Normally I would name the lift thing you guys did a continuity error. But I assume you did it for purpose😂

[@DanLoudShirts]

He forced me to do it I tell ya!

[@nataliehargrave2605]

All for new connections and that, but this station opening has just made my commute £20 more expensive because I miss my connection at Reading so have to travel in peak hours 🥲 Still, glad to see it’s open after months of it looking very ready!

[@garrymartin6474]

I'm reminded of the "Playcraft" model of Macclesfield Station which dated from the mid 60's 👀

[@marcusrashid]

I went on opening day and the lack of seating was evident. As it was after the football match at the nearby stadium that people were sitting on the floor. Myself sat on the stairs! Its a rather basic station. Also the walk between the stadium and the station is over 20 minutes. Much easier to get the bus from Reading Station instead

[@tiffinmeister]

With a little new track and signalling at Southcote Junction it would be possible to directly link Newbury and Basingstoke, both very big and prosperous towns. The route would be Newbury and stations to Theale, then Reading Green Park and stations to Basingstoke (and vice versa).

[@ollymawson421]

Amazing video as always Geoff! I am keeping an eye opening for the newest station near me - Marsh Barton in Exeter - to visit when it opens. If you happen to be visiting Devon to see it open, would love to show you the riverside walk that links Marsh Barton to St Thomas station. Lovely section of line!

[@nigelh4617]

"Basingrad" Arf...

[@kaitlyn__L]

Oh hey, that overbridge seems to be built basically the same as the one in Oxford. Except a bit narrower. And with modern materials.

[@paulshorney3465]

Nice addition to the line,my son lives in Bramley so I use it often when I'm in Basingstoke on a visit,👍

[@mesnilman2327]

9:06 "S'il vous plaît". Geoff, your time with The Tim Traveller has paid off. Mange tout, mange tout.

[@DanLoudShirts]

Olive Wah, Rodders....