Reading West Station Transformation

The £4.1 million transformation of Reading West is gathering pace with work under way on a new station building

£164 MILLION OVERHAUL FOR KEY CROSS-BORDER RAIL LINE

The West Coast main line will close for 16 days in March as Network Rail engineers deliver a vital programme of work to upgrade Carstairs Junction. The closure of the line, between 4 March and 19 March, is the first phase of a three-month programme of work which will also see trains diverted and journey-times extended between March and June for all services between Glasgow/Edinburgh and Carlisle.

775-METRE-LONG FREIGHT TRAINS

The work is part of a £164 million Scottish Government investment to modernise the key junction for passenger and freight services.

It will also see the creation of Scotland’s largest freight loop, capable of accommodating 775-metre-long freight trains to help more businesses move goods off the road and onto rail to help achieve the Government’s Net Zero targets.

Asteel frame has now been erected on the Oxford Road side of the station as the building – which will include a brand new ticket hall and retail outlet – begins to take shape. Great Western Railway, Reading Borough Council, Network Rail and Berkshire LEP have been working in partnership on the new-look and a safer station environment, which is expected to be finished by the spring.

The project includes new ticket gates to the Oxford Road and Tilehurst Road entrances which will allow only ticket holders access to the platforms, which is not currently the case. This will help significantly improve safety and security at the station. Other improvements include enhanced CCTV coverage and lighting.

Tom Pierpoint said: ‘It has been exciting to see the new building on the Oxford Road side of the station taking shape at such a rapid pace. The building will house a new ticket hall and retail outlet and remains on course to be completed by late spring.’