General information for participants

TRAVEL INFORMATION

For the location of ECMWF and detailed travel instructions please click here

The quickest way to travel between ECMWF and Reading Town Centre is by taxi. Our receptionist will be able to arrange taxis if necessary. Alternatively, Reading Buses bus service no. 9 runs between Reading Railway Station and Shinfield Road. Tickets can be bought from the driver, please note that the exact change is needed. For bus timetable information please click here

SECURITY

The name badge you will be issued with is also a security pass. Access can be denied by the security guard if you are unable to show him the badge on request. For security reasons you must sign the visitor’s list each day on arrival and departure.

Please do not leave any personal belongings at ECMWF outside office hours. Also we recommend that you do not leave valuables unattended in the building. ECMWF will not take any responsibility for items lost at the premises.

RESTAURANT

ECMWF's Restaurant is open during the times specified on the programme for lunch. Lunch menus are displayed in the Restaurant and on the various notice boards in the building. The Restaurant is self-service. Coffee/tea will be supplied during the breaks as specified on the programme. In addition to this, coffee is available from vending machines located in the main hall and in the Restaurant.

SHOPS

The nearest group of shops is in easy walking distance and can be reached by turning left along the Shinfield Road as you leave the grounds of ECMWF. They include a POST OFFICE, a NEWS AGENTS, a CHEMIST/PHARMACY and a number of restaurants. Some shops are closed on Monday and a few of them on Wednesday afternoon.

Stamps are on sale at the Reception desk.

There are a number of branches of Waterstones (Academic/Specialist Bookseller) stocking scientific books in Reading.

LIBRARY

The library is located on the ground floor next to Reception and has a wide range of books and journals on both meteorological and computing matters.

MONEY

The nearest bank is the National Westminster Bank on the Shinfield Road opposite the University as you go towards the centre of Reading. There is a large variety of banks in the centre of Reading. When cashing Traveller’s Cheques it will be necessary for you to have some identification, such as a passport. The nearest cash point is at the Shell petrol station on the Shinfield Road (approximately 10 minutes walk from ECMWF).

TELEPHONE

Outgoing calls can be made from the pay-phone in the Reception and Concourse. Phonecards can be purchased from the Receptionist. If you cannot be contacted when there is an incoming call for you, a message will be left at the Reception desk.

CONTACT POINT

While you are at ECMWF take the opportunity to meet your Contact Point from within User Support. These people are here to help you in your subsequent use of the Centre’s computing facilities; hence it can be valuable to get to know them now. If you don’t know who your contact point is, please ask on arrival.

The offices of USER SUPPORT are located in the ground floor of the office block.

COMPUTER USAGE

While on the training course you will be given some practical examples to do, for which you will be supplied with a training identifier.

However, if while at ECMWF you wish to do some of your own computer work, you will need to use one of the registered identifier/project combinations for your Member State or Co-operating State. If you do not know which to use, then your Contact Point may be able to help. Do not use the training identifier/project for your own work.

DOCUMENTATION

You will be supplied with copies of some documentation during your course. You are welcome to take these away.

QUESTIONNAIRE

At the end of each course you will be invited to complete a questionnaire on your reaction to the training course. Please use this to inform ECMWF of both the good and the bad points you found on the course. The results from these questionnaires are used when planning subsequent courses and are a very valuable source of feedback as to how well or badly the course was received. When completing the questionnaire you may remain anonymous if you wish.