Reading West railway station improvements unveiled
The station has undergone a multi-million pound facelift
Last updated 19th Mar 2024
The Mayor of Reading Cllr Tony Page has opened a new ticket office at Reading West railway station.
The transformation of the station in Oxford Road includes new ticket gates, new lighting and CCTV cameras to significantly improve safety and security of the local community and travelling public.
Reading Borough Council has worked with Network Rail and Great Western Railway to deliver the £5million project.
The new station building on Oxford Road is the centrepiece of the upgrade, containing an information counter, customer toilet and retail space.
New ticket gates have also been installed at the Oxford Road and Tilehurst Road entrances to ensure that paying passengers only have access to the platforms.
A new bus interchange, improved cycle parking and pedestrian crossing have also been added as part of the scheme, along with improvements to the Tilehurst Road entrance.
Improvement
Cllr John Ennis, Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport, said:
“Local residents who use Reading West station will notice a big improvement following this major upgrade.
“They will be able to enjoy much better facilities, such as a ticket office and toilets, with the opening of the modern new station building on Oxford Road and improved access from Tilehurst Road.
“Passengers will also notice a more secure and safer environment with the installation of ticket barriers, improved lighting and CCTV cameras.
“We are pleased that the new station building has been ‘futureproofed’ for the installation of lifts and it remains the Council’s ambition, working with our rail partners, for Reading West to become a totally accessible station.”
Brighter
GWR Business Development Director Tom Pierpoint, said:
“We’re delighted to officially reopen this station, and the major improvements you can see around me – providing a newer, brighter, safer station environment, with modern facilities for all who use it.
“Reading West is a very important station for both residents and visitors and we are delighted to have been able to work with Reading Borough Council, the LEP, the Department for Transport and Network Rail to deliver these improvements.
“We know that working together means we can deliver more and we are committed to a cooperative, collaborative approach with the communities we serve.”
Sustainable economic growth
Alison Webster, Chief Executive Officer of Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership, said:
“Local commuter stations, such as Reading West, are critical in providing access to major employment and commercial centres.
“Berkshire LEP is delighted to have invested £3.1 million of the Government’s Local Growth Fund to support improvements at Reading West.
“Through improvements in accessibility, stations can accommodate more passengers to meet increased travel demand, making it easier for commuters to make green travel choices over personal car use and so support sustainable economic growth.”