Reading West Railway station is undergoing a transformative project which has now seen a steel frame of the new station building erected on the Oxford Road side of the station. The new building will feature a brand new ticket hall alongside a retail outlet.
The project has seen a partnership between Great Western Railway, Reading Borough Council, Network Rail and Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership and will create a more modern and safe station environment which should be complete by Spring 2023.
The station's Oxford Road and Tilehurst Road entrances will see new ticket gates which will provide access to the platforms for ticket holders only creating a vast improvement in both safety and security. Further improvements will see enhanced CCTV coverage as well as lighting.
Over the next two weeks, the station's Tilehurst Road entrance is set to reopen and residents from Tilehurst Road and Southcote side will be able to access the station once again however work on the ticket gates will be ongoing until April 2023.
Pavements on the south side of Oxford Road are still unable to be used due to ongoing building work.
GWR Business Development Portfolio Director, Tom Pierpoint, said: “The installation of the station building's steel frame really does feel like a milestone moment and it's exciting to see work moving at such a quick pace.
“We've been working very closely with Reading Borough Council and Network Rail to deliver this transformation and we hope customers will be pleased with the results as the new-look station continues to take shape during the winter.”
Reading Borough Council's Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, Tony Page, said: “Residents will be pleased to see the new station building at Reading West begin to take shape, which follows the Council's own preparatory works earlier this year.
“When complete, residents and regular commuters can look forward to a much-improved and safer station environment, delivered through the design and operation of Reading West. Aside from the brand-new station building, this will include new ticket gates to limit station access to paying customers, new lighting, CCTV, toilets, a retail facility and better waiting areas.
“I am additionally pleased that local residents approaching from Southcote and the Tilehurst Road side will soon be able to access Reading West again, and we thank them for their patience while these improvement works take place.”
Berkshire LEP Chief Executive, Alison Webster, said: “It's fantastic to see progress at Reading West station. This scheme is a great opportunity to deliver more than transport benefits through developing the station into a focal point for the local community. Reading West station will now be able to act as a catalyst for wider development and regeneration, including Oxford Road itself and the Portman Road Employment Area.”
Network Rail industry programme director – Heathrow & Thames Valley, Joanna Grew, said: “It's really pleasing to see the progress being made on the new station building at Reading West.
“The Thames Valley rail corridor is a very busy part of the rail network serving many commuters and local residents and the prospect of this transformed station opening next spring is very exciting.”
