 Hello, thank you for joining me. I've just come out for a ride in my larder. I'm just parked near Taplow station We're going for a ride to start with on the western section of the Elizabeth line. It's the 27th of May 2023 a year ago and three days ago on the 24th of May 2022 the Elizabeth line the central core section opened now seems so long ago now now you can get a train from here at Taplow right through to Abbey Wood. What we're doing in today's video We're not going that way towards central London. As I said, we're going to go west We're going to Reading and then we're going to go a little way beyond Reading down to the south to visit the new Reading Green Park station open today, so I'm excited to go somewhere It's always exciting to go to a railway station on the day they first open So we're not far now from the railway station always parked down there It's free to come down here on a weekday. That'll be the cars all along there Anyway, we are very nearly at Taplow station where our journey starts There you go. Taplow station is just up there. That's the railway line. I'm going to go and buy a ticket to Reading Green Park Here we are on Taplow's rather spacious footbridge. It almost feels like you could sort of You know have like a party or a wedding reception or something like that. It's so big Over there It's that's looking towards London that way and Down there is the station trains due in about two minutes. So I'm going to go down there and catch my train So we've arrived at Reading Reading General. It's not actually called Reading General anymore But I think it's quite nice that they've kept this this old style sign as a few of them around the station I remember last year I stood by one of the other signs and started a video when we went to the Reading Society of Model Engineers up Across Beck Park. If you'd like to see that video have a look at link on screen now. It's always quite busy and chaotic here Train to Penzant's arriving. That's always a nice journey to do not as fun on those as it was on the HST I think though the journey we're doing is going to be somewhat less busy less chaotic and Well now many people are going just to go to Reading Green Park. This is our train 165 118 over here in the Bay platforms I don't know if I've even ever been out of these Bay platforms before I might have done Yeah, I think I probably have done about once but I Certainly haven't done many journeys. In fact the journey on the line down to Bays in Stoke I've only been on that once in my life before and that was in 2002 when Virgin Cross Country still used class 47s I remember a friend of mine and I we went we wanted to do a class 47 to Bournemouth So we took train up to Banbury and came down here, but on the way we actually did the other side of the curve There's a huge triangle up there. We did the other side the curve So I have done that and then on the way back. I remember the train came in and out Actually was an HST we came back on came into Reading. So this is my train 165 118. I'm down to just three 165s I need to travel on. This isn't one of them Two of them are Reading base ones Bristol base. So quite soon be traveling out that way. It's a Reading Green Park I'm really excited to go and take a brand new station off on its first day. I've just left Reading West We're still on the line that I do quite regularly Well, it branches off in a moment the line to the West Country not far up there is the miniature railway I mentioned earlier, which is well worth a visit. So this is now South Coast Junction So the overhead wires will peel off in a moment and they head west down towards Tornton Yeah, it's just filled up as we branch off. There was also another line that went off on the other side Went to a good step over maybe that's a video for another day. So this isn't new track for me This is track. I've not done for 21 years. So what a while ago Now that's the line over there, which goes to said down to Eastbury Westbury and eventually Tornton. The parks and hanses it's known I don't know why it's called the parks and hanses it doesn't actually go through Hampshire at all It should be more like the Parkshire Wiltshire and Somerset So Reading Green Park station is very soon. That's the River Kenyon or Kenyon and Avon Cow. We just passed over It's going to be interesting to see what's there. It's quite a lot greenery So that certainly goes with the Green Park feel of it. Almost fought like this morning Should I go up to London and go to Green Park station first and start the video? So, yes, there's no no wise here. So it's any Diesel trains you get the odd steam that comes through. I think it's on the 21st of June flying Scotsman students pass through here So that probably be the first opportunity to see steam. There you go a this station Just pass another turbo going in the opposite direction. So I'm gonna see this station in a minute for the first time It'll be on YouTube. I've not been here at all before like so. I've not passed through this line For 20 not been on this line for 21 years So a few people getting up to get off I can just see so probably quite a lot of people like myself are coming here You know to be here on the new railway stations first day just to say, you know, Dave were there I'll always, you know, I'll always remember this now. I'll always think yeah, Reading Green Park on the few times I pass through here. I was there on its first day Two people on the platform observing the trains. Well, as I say, it looks very new because it is brand new Yeah, half the carriage appears to be getting out here. So In fact, I'm gonna go down this way because I want to watch to get a video of the train departing The train I traveled here. I'll get a video of it departing Reading Green Park This is Reading Green Park. So as we There's our train that bought us here So we'll watch that go and then we'll have a look around the station So our train has now departed for Basingstoke. Let's go and have a look around the station Another train coming. So there's another train coming quite soon. Admittedly I was just chatting to a few other people so it was probably about 20 minutes ago that train actually left But anyway, let's have a look at the station. So here's the station building It's the most attractive station I've ever seen. I have to say well There is a bit of an architectural feature here, which I quite like if you have a look at the block work Every third one is a slightly different color and it's it's really smooth. This is a bit more So there's a bit of an architectural feature there. Let's go inside the station building and we'll have a look See what there is inside. So down there. You've got the toilets and then down that end There's a gate line I'm going to have to ask them soon when I go to leave the station if I can keep my ticket because I want to keep it It's the first day. Interesting, there's a special event taking place here It's not the fact that there's loads of people coming here today just to see a new railway station There is actually some other special event. There's a nice picture there Now let's go and have a look outside Basingstoke People are clapping Here comes the next train. So this is a class 165 now this one. I saw it go in the other way when I arrived I think it's 165113 It's one I still need to travel on. I've had all but three of the 165s So I'm almost tempted to get on this one. I don't know if that would be sick Part from one is the 1113 Great Bristol Railway service to Basingstoke This train is for the free coaches. I think this is the way out of the station. When the city office is closed People would come out this way. Let's now go and have a look on the other side of the station Yeah, I do need that that unit for haulage. So what I'm going to do I'll probably try and go back on that one as we come up here. We get a bit of a view of the rest of The station or the area outside. You can see a lake in the distance. We'll go have a proper look around there Of course, there is lifts as you always get on a new station. Here's the view from the bridge So see what we can see up here. So yeah, the 165 is waiting down there That way is looking towards Reading. So it's looking directly north there. Now, let's try out the lift shall we? And not much on the other side of the station Just a wasteland. A lot of green though We're in Green Park Let's go down to the other side And we'll see the rest of the station So, yeah, I'm really pleased to see another railway station added to the list More and more stations, you know our opening and I try and go to them on their first day or as Near as I can to their opening day. So it's always a really nice atmosphere But today it's such a nice atmosphere station because majority of the people who are here are here because They're here To see the station for the first time. There must be some people as I think those flats are finished yet But some people who live locally who have had to catch a bus into town But now if you live not too far, you can now just walk here and get a train into Reading and beyond. So that's you know, a Certain population of people now have a railway station on their doorstep So that's always a positive thing. There's no other entrance out on this side. Maybe one day Have to wait and see what happens in the future. They might build more houses out on that side And there could well be another entrance out the back of the station We'll have to wait and see what happens there from this side gives us a chance to have another look at the station building As I say, I don't think it's the most attractive. I do quite like what they've done with the block work That makes it. Yeah, just just sets it out a little bit different. So you've got some more waiting shelters Just down here and then if we continue Almost we might as well for the sake of doing it We'll go right to the end of the platform and then I feel it might be freight train coming through So we'll see the freight it's been a few cross countries come through of course Cross countries are going to and from Dicker Parkway at the moment because of the Nunnam Viaduct collapse or damage in Oxford although that is due to reopen soon across country trains I don't think there's ever any plans for them to stop here But you know if you wanted to catch one you just simply catch a train from here Reading Green Park to Reading Anyway, I'm gonna now wait and see this freight come through. I'll just have a look at that way See all the new flats that are being built So there's a lot of people are gonna live in the new flats and they'll have a station on their doorstep There is also I can't see it, but not too far from here is the Majeski Stadium So we're gonna go and have a walk over there once the freight's been through There you go, that's the first freight that's all passed through here 66068 and I've just noticed something on the bridge the footbridge look that is the bridge is identity Usually they're in chains, but this one is in yards. So it's 38 miles. I assume from Nunnam Paddington 1594 yards, I've never seen a bridge in yards before so it's quite nice They're still using imperial measurements the railways is one place where imperial measurements, you know are still quite prominent In some cases online undergraduate metric, but on the national railways all the bridges are usually marked by chains It's interesting to see that one's marked by yards. I'm gonna do now though I'm gonna go and have a look out the front of the station I'm outside the station now. It's quite nice. They were giving away these little badges see that Reading Green Park So I've got a nice little souvenir of the day. So this is the ticket office and the gate line That picture again of the station the departure ball. They're all the departures. It's all Reading or basing stoke There's no other destination. So well, it's a bus stop right outside the station So it's conveniently served for public transport. So you come out here Tesco Express and There's a car park over there Swaffle do just walk over here and we get a look at the station from this angle As I said when I was going up on the bridge, I noticed the lake So I'm keen to have a look walk around the lake and just see what else there is the Majestiki stadium is not too far away from here. So that's something else That's probably what a lot of people who travel here will travel here to use and everywhere That's a good view there of Reading Green Park. Let's go and explore a little bit further It's really quite pleasant down here down by the water. This is called the South Lake I expect it was some sort of gravel pit or quarry. I noticed looking on a map in that direction There's a lot more lakes in the area as you can see There's new Flats and then houses and apartments being built around the lake now. There's a path We can't quite walk all the way around the lake yet because the constructions and fish but if we follow this Sweeping path we can have a little explore Of the area. So at the moment this does all feel really nice. It probably will always be a pleasant place That's exciting It just probably will be a lot busier, especially on a nice day like this While it's all new and there's only a few people just come in to have a look and you know all the apartments aren't yet lived in It's quite nice and quiet Very nice bridge there Just put a path along there. This is so much more fun having a bridge over the water The water is very nice and clear You can see straight in Down to the bottom because of the fish. I'm not really into fishing but well it's in Swimming so I'll have a look around here and look around the gardens And then soon it'll be time for me to head back I think it's the 12 12 around that kind of time because I really want to catch 165 113 then I'll I'll be down to just two Winning 165s. You think they've been around all my life. I remember as a child Then when they first arrived on the Chilton main line, I remember the old DMUs before them and then the 165s came And I've seen them all probably about 10 years. I thought I saw them all There's just a few I haven't been on As for the 166 is well, that's another story. It's quite a lot of them. I still need but the 165s I nearly seen them. Anyway, as for this, this is Just nice and breezy a nice spring day Railway station over there. I'm just going to continue around here and then as I said, it'll be time for me to go and catch my train back It's a very nice cup of tea in this trip or two cafe quite like their logo I think it's meant to be scooters, but it looks a bit like a steam locomotive This is the area on the other side of the lake And the station is just over there. So people will probably People have already moved into these brand new houses around here. They can grab their cup of tea Or coffee and make their way over to the station because there wasn't a cafe at the station That was one thing. I just didn't have a cafe some new railway stations do others don't Reading Green Park doesn't but triple two cafe is quite nice And this is all so really pleasant. So Yeah, every time you come to a new station the area around them is always different sometimes, you know You're in the middle of an urban area here. We're just on the edge of a major town The only thing I think Reading is missing is it could do have a tram network a town the size of this if this was in Germany, there'd definitely be trams. I really wish Reading did have trams I'm 20 buses. I wish Reading had trams Reading would be Perfect if it had trams and I can almost imagine a tram route passing by here So walk back around the lake now back to Reading Green Park Here we are back at Reading Green Park station Been quite an interesting morning out somewhere not too far from home for me to go to But somewhere all completely new as I said early on I've only ever done this line once in the past I have to get trained down to Beijing Stokes sometime just to do the other part of the line I did visit Bramley station a month or so ago when Brawnton came through So have a look at link on screen now be able to see a video of that We're now here to catch our free coach train. So there's three trains out Doing the stopping service to stop at Reading West, Reading Green Park, Mortimer and Bramley Two of them are two cars and there's one free car one and it's the free car one we're catching As I said, it's due to be one six five one one three one of my winning units So we're going to wait and see that arrive and then back to Reading we go So here we are we're departing Reading Green Park That was really quite a nice morning. See a nice new railway station in nice weather I'm traveling back to Reading. I'm traveling in first class. I don't have a first class ticket, but There is no first class service on this line because the other one six five two car ones no longer have any first class Accommodation. So that means the first class is declassified. So I'm going to enjoy a first class journey A standard class price for the 10 or so minute journey back to Reading. So I hope you enjoyed this video Thank you very much for watching Please do feel free to like share comment and subscribe and from somewhere between Reading Green Park and Southcote Junction. Goodbye