Reading Green Park station to open on 27 May

Reading Green Park Station is set to open on Saturday 27 May 2023, becoming the first new station in Reading for over a century.

The last station to open in the Berkshire town was Reading West in July 1906. Reading Green Park will be the first of three new Great Western Railway (GWR) stations to open this year, along with Portway Park & Ride in Bristol and Marsh Barton in Exeter.

The station will provide improved sustainable travel options for local residents and businesses in the Green Park area, as well as fans attending events at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, home of Reading Football Club.

Built by Reading Borough Council, Network Rail and GWR, the new station features:

• two 150m-long platforms
• a new, fully-accessible station building
• a fully-accessible overbridge, providing access to both platforms, via stairs and lifts
• a bus interchange, taxi rank and cycle parking facilities
• two car parks, including twelve blue badge spaces for disabled passengers and drop-off parking and long-stay parking for commuters.

The station is on the Reading to Basingstoke line, and services will run every half hour northbound to Reading and southbound to Basingstoke through the day.

Reading Council worked alongside the rail industry to secure approvals, funding and planning permission for the station, as well as managing its construction.

Readers can take a virtual tour of the new facilities here and view aerial footage of the entire site here.

The transformation of Reading West station is also due to complete this year and the Elizabeth Line, which opened a year ago, now offers travellers to and from Reading modern trains and a seamless transition into central or east London.

Tony Page, Reading Borough Council's Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:

“I'm thrilled that we finally have an opening date for Reading Green Park Station. This will be Reading's first brand new station since the opening of Reading

West station on 1 July 1906.“When open for public use from Saturday 27 May, Reading Green Park Station will form an integral part of Reading's ever-growing sustainable transport infrastructure.“The new multi-modal interchange will dramatically improve accessibility and connectivity to this important area of south Reading. The future expansion of the business park and residential areas on Green Park, as well as the proposed Royal Elm Park mixed use development, will all benefit from the new station.“It will also be another option for football fans heading to the Stadium on match days, again taking the pressure off our busy local roads.”

GWR Business Development Director, Tom Pierpoint, said:

“New stations such as Reading Green Park are vital in bringing the railway closer to people as we all become more mindful to live and travel more sustainably.”Reading Green Park is one of three GWR stations to open this year along with Marsh Barton in Exeter and Portway Park & Ride in Bristol and we are excited for the benefits these stations will bring to local residents, businesses and leisure travellers in the areas they will serve.”

Joanna Grew, Network Rail industry programme director – Heathrow & Thames Valley, said:

“We're delighted Reading Green Park station will soon open. It will play an important role in connecting communities between Reading and Basingstoke through regular and reliable sustainable transport while reducing the level of traffic on the A33.“We look forward to continuing our work with  GWR and our other industry partners to provide the best service possible across the Thames Valley and including Reading Green Park.”