Welcome to our exhibition web page. The information is based on the public exhibition that is currently taking place in venues around Reading.

It explains plans we have developed together with the Department for Transport and Reading Borough Council to improve the railway at Reading.

The benefits for passengers will include more trains and better services throughout the Thames Valley and West Country, fewer delays and a better station. The improvements will also allow more freight to run, saving hundreds of lorry journeys every day, and will boost businesses in Reading.

This is your chance to:

• see our plans
• ask the team questions
• have your say and give us your comments.

We will consider all your feedback carefully before we finalise our plans.

A clear vision

The exhibition shows a shared vision that will remove the bottleneck at Reading and improve the railway.

Working together, the Department for Transport, Network Rail, Reading Borough Council and the rail industry have to come up with a plan that will:

• untangle the railway lines
• improve speeds for trains
• reduce delays.

This, delivered working closely with the station operator First Great Western and the wider rail industry, will provide:

• a significant improvement in train service reliability in the Reading area
• more platforms at the station to ease overcrowding
• faster and more reliable long distance services
• a new northern entrance to the station to improve access and reconnect central Reading with the River Thames.

We are also working closely with the owners of property in and around the station so the improvements will integrate well.

Our new plan

We plan to build five new platforms for Reading station, lengthen three others and allow for a new entrance from the station to north Reading to improve access. A new elevated railway will allow express trains to travel on fast lines up and over slower lines, preventing conflicts and delays and allowing more trains. We will be looking for a high quality design providing a new approach to Reading for passengers.

What you told us

Before this new plan was developed Reading Borough Council and Network Rail consulted on proposals for an underpass west of Reading station. This plan would have meant closing several road bridges, including Cow Lane Bridge and building a new road north of the railway.

When we spoke to people in Reading about these plans they:

• supported building a better railway
• wanted to see more trains and fewer delays
• wanted a better station.

But people:

• didn’t want to see Cow Lane Bridges closed
• were worried about traffic on t he new road and any impact on Scours Lane
• were worried about the loss of access for cyclists and pedestrians.

We listened to those comments and our new plans keep Cow Lane Bridge open, remove the need for an underpass and remove the new road, avoiding any impact on Scours Lane.

The benefits

More trains
Improvements will allow the capacity for at least 4 extra trains in each direction every hour.

This will improve the passenger experience throughout the Thames Valley and West Country.

Fewer delays
Passengers will complete their journeys in better time than before.

Removal of the bottleneck will allow trains to move more freely into the station meaning they will not be forced to wait outside the station.

Additional capacity in the network will also reduce the likelihood of delays if there are problems with other services.

A better station
The station will receive:

• Five new platforms to ease overcrowding
• A new foot-bridge between platforms
• New escalators and lifts

Improving access
A new northern entrance for the station will improving the link through the station between Reading town centre to the Thames (Caversham).

More capacity for freight
Improvements will allow 6 new freight trains each day - this could take around 200 lorries a day off our roads.

We know that rail freight has only a quarter of the carbon footprint of moving freight by truck, meaning this project will contribute to reductions in carbon and congestion.

Improved Cow Lane Bridges
We propose to widen both Cow Lane Bridges, providing two carriageways able to accommodate double-decker buses and lorries. A new cycle way and pavement will be provided for cyclists and pedestrians.

Planning for the future
These plans provide for possible future Crossrail and Airtrack services at Reading station, building a railway that will be fit for at least the next thirty years.

New construction jobs
We estimate around 130 dedicated Network Rail staff will be needed, additional to the needs of our contractors and partners. We want to recruit as many people as possible from the Reading area.

A boost for Reading businesses
Reading Borough Council estimates that improving the railway will boost business in the town significantly.

More seats
The DfT is working on plans for larger local and long distance trains able to carry more passengers.
Planning for the future

These plans provide for possible future Crossrail and Airtrack services at Reading station, building a railway that will be fit for at least the next thirty years. We are also examining options to:

• improve the station concourse
• provide new facilities such as improved ticketing
• enhance cycle facilities.  

Looking forward

Keeping train services running

The rail industry is working together to keep train services running throughout the improvement programme. Network Rail, a dedicated team from First Great Western and the freight industry, and other train operators are closely co-ordinating work as it is taken forward.

Building considerately

We are committed to keeping disruption to a minimum while we carry out our work. Network Rail runs a 24-hour helpline on 08457 114141 and has a team of regional community relations advisors and a manager covering the area to deal with any issues.

We will also carry out an environmental appraisal of the proposal that will include looking after any protected species.

Next steps

First we will consider all the comments we receive from this exhibition carefully as we finalise our plans. A report detailing the feedback we have received will be available from this page in the coming weeks.

Later this year we will expect to submit a Transport and Works Act Order so we can acquire any land required (full details of this will be posted on this website).

Have your say

Thanks for taking the time to read about the proposals for the Reading area. Our consultation period is now closed, but please feel free to stay in contact via e-mail: Readingconsultation@networkrail.co.uk.