Sixteen weeks of disruption on busy Reading commuter route
Oxford Road users in for more misery as work starts on Reading West station improvements
Last updated 13th Aug 2021
PREPARATORY works for major improvements to Reading West Station begin next week with roadworks on the Oxford Road to make space for a brand new station building.
Reading Borough Council is leading on a £3.3 million project to transform Reading West, working in partnership with Great Western Railway and Network Rail.
A new station building on the Oxford Road forms the centrepiece of the improvements, which include new ticket gates at the Tilehurst Road and Oxford Road entrances, new toilets and a retail facility, all which will significantly improve safety and security. A new bus interchange and improved cycle parking also form part of the scheme, as do improvements to the Tilehurst Road entrance.
From Monday August 16th highway works and realignment works will begin to pave the way for the new station building on the south side of the Oxford Road. Works will involve temporary lane closures and traffic signals which will be manually controlled during peak periods to help traffic flow better.
The preparatory works are expected to run for 16 weeks, at which point partners Great Western Railway will take possession of the southern side of the Oxford Road for construction of the new station building. The new station facilities are expected to be open to the public next summer.
A number of the parking bays on the Oxford Road will be suspended and, in consultation with Reading Buses, the inbound and outbound bus stops on the Oxford Road at the station will be relocated for the duration of the works. There will also be a closure and diversion routes for exit from Salisbury Road and entry to Gower Street.
Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said:
“These preparatory works effectively mark the start of construction of the new and much improved station environment at Reading West. Local residents and passengers will be all too familiar with the regular instances of anti-social behavior which have blighted the station over very many years. A key element of this project is to tackle those issues through the design and day to day operation of a new station.
“At the planning consultation stage, the Council took into consideration concerns expressed about access into and in front of the station. By marginally moving a bus stop and kerb lines on both sides of the road, the footpath directly in front of the station has been widened. These preparatory works begin next week, alongside physical work to create a new bus interchange to make it easier for commuters to easily swap from bus to train, and additional cycle parking.
“Road users who regularly travel along the Oxford Road are asked to build in extra time for their journeys, particularly through the autumn months when the roads are likely to become busier. We thank local residents for their patience whilst this important project takes shape.”
Reading West Station sits just off the busy Oxford Road and is on the Reading to Basingstoke and Reading to Newbury line. The project aims to attract even more commuters to the rail network as it will be a significant upgrade to the current facilities at Reading West.
The scheme is being funded through £3.1m of Local Growth Fund secured from the Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, as well as £200,000 Section 106 developer contributions.
More information on the Reading West Station improvement scheme is available at https://www.reading.gov.uk/council/policies-finance-and-legal-information/transport-schemes-and-projects/reading-west-station/