Reading Station revamp
24 December 2010, 05:30 | Updated: 28 December 2010, 08:11
Work to improve Reading Station is taking place over Christmas and will disrupt services.
It's after Reading Borough Council approved Network Rail's plans for a multi-million pound redevelopment.
A new, bigger, more spacious station will be built, with new entrances, escalators, bridges and a wider passenger footbridge.
Services will be affected until the 3rd January whilst engineers undertake work as part of the £850 million revamp of Reading Train Station.
Work will include installing a new signalling system for the entire Reading area and placing a new 750 tonne rail bridge over Caversham Road.
When these jobs are done, it will be possible to add extra platforms and new entrances at Reading station, and a viaduct to the west of the station designed to increase capacity and cut delays.
As a result of the work on Caversham Bridge, Caversham Road will be closed from 8pm on 30 December to 6am on 3 January.
What train services will run over Christmas?
Bank Holidays Tuesday (28 December)
All train lines through Reading will be closed.
Long distance train services will run to/from London via a diversionary route.
First Great Western will put on alternative transport for local services to, from and through Reading.
Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 December 2010
The same arrangements will operate as per 27 and 28 December.
New Year's Eve
All routes will be open. A Bank Holiday service will operate including additional trains from London.
New Year's Day (Saturday 1 January 2011)
The line between Didcot Parkway and Twyford will be closed.
First Great Western will put on alternative transport between Didcot, Reading and Twyford.
Long distance train services will run to/from London via a diversionary route.
All other routes will be open, with a Bank Holiday service in operation.
Sunday 2 January 2011
The line between Didcot Parkway and Twyford will be closed until midday.
First Great Western will put on alternative transport between Didcot, Reading and Twyford.
Long distance train services will run to / from London via a diversionary route until midday.
All other routes will be open, with a Bank Holiday service in operation.
Monday 3 January 2011 (Bank Holiday)
Reading Station area will be closed overnight.
Tuesday 4 January 2011
Normal scheduled trains services are expected to run
First Great Western Projects and Planning Manager, Matthew Golton said:
"Although Network Rail’s work will have an impact on our services this Christmas, we’ve been working together to make sure the railway remains open for business.
“The work is vital to making improvements to the railway. We have planned our services for the festive period very carefully – including adding extra services and re-routing others – to make sure we can get our customers to where they need to go. I’d urge people to plan carefully before making their journeys.”
Tony Walker, Network Rail scheme sponsor for the Reading project said:
“Our work at Reading this Christmas is the first major step on the road to making Reading’s station and rail network better. We’re working at Christmas because the railway is quieter at this time of year and we’ll be able to concentrate a lot of work into a short space of time than spread out disruption over a prolonged period.”
Tom Fuller, President of the Reading Chamber of Commerce said:
“Although the work at Reading station this Christmas will affect how people get to and from the town, we’re expecting the festive period to be busier than ever. With many trains still running at Christmas, especially over the new year weekend, and plenty of alternative transport options for getting into Reading, a little advanced planning will mean shoppers and staff can get where they need to go.”