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An artist's impression of Reading's new railway station
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£848m rail station plans go on show

By Paul Robins
July 23, 2009

The £848 million revamp of Reading station has gone under scrutiny at a public exhibition.

The month-long display will give people a chance to cast their eye over detailed plans to improve transport links in the town centre to accommodate the major rail scheme.

Network Rail’s project, which includes the creation of new entrances and interchanges north and south of the station, will lead to a major overhaul of the surrounding pedestrian, bus, taxi and car routes.

Proposals include two-way bus access through West Street and St Mary’s Butts, while Valpy Street, Station Road and the northern end of Blagrave Street would be made one-way to all traffic.

The most dramatic change would be Friar Street, where the western end – close to West Street – would be made two-way for buses and taxis, while the other end near the Town Hall would be one-way westbound from the junction with Station Road.

Those going along will also be able to see the latest images for the pedestrianised concourse area in front of the station, which would result in the closure of Station Approach to all vehicles.

The multi-million pound station upgrade will include five new platforms and a 30-metre wide bridge over the tracks to increase its capacity to 35 million passengers a year.

Councillor Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s lead member for transport, said: “The next few years will see a massive transformation, not only to the station itself but also to the areas to the immediate north and south.

“We want to inform local people and businesses about the benefits that will flow from the changes.

“Reading Borough Council, Network Rail and adjoining property owners are working together to improve the local environment, strengthen public transport, cycling and pedestrian links to the area and at the end deliver a world class regeneration scheme.

“I hope people will take the opportunity to be updated on these exciting developments.”

Plans of the proposed changes will be on display in the window of 40 Station Hill until Friday, August 21.

The council has also organised a series of drop-in sessions where transport officers will be on hand to answer questions.

These will be held in Committee Room 1 at the Civic Centre tomorrow from 10.30am and 4pm, at the Station Hill office where the plans are displayed on Tuesday, August 4, from 2pm to 8pm and on Saturday, August 15, from 11am to 3pm, and in the Silverthorne Room in Reading Town Hall on Thursday, August 20, from 2pm to 8pm.

paul.robins@reading-epost.co.uk

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The 'plans' at the moment are in a scruffy diplapodated empty shop opposite the station and consist of a few posters stapled up onto cardboard. It must have cost 48p to show £848m plans. Why not a proper exibition in the Town Hall and Library. The 'new station' looks like a standard Tesco/Asda/Sainsbury shed and the dirty concrete will be just the same as the old dirty concrete. Why not go for something outstanding for a change?

Spend a few of those million getting real architects in.

pavane
31/07/2009 at 09:41

So although the article is dated 23rd July it was incorrect at the time of going to press? Come on Evening Post sort it out and give your readers accurate information!

RYF, Royal County of Berkshire
24/07/2009 at 11:28

Just checked with Reading Borough Council - the exhibition was today - 23rd July. Finished at 4.00pm. No exhibition tomorrow (24th) contrary to the e-post article.

Damocles, Reading
23/07/2009 at 17:09

When Cllr Page refers to adjoining property owners as in “Reading Borough Council, Network Rail and adjoining property owners are working together to improve the local environment, strengthen public transport,..." is this not Sir John Madejski and his Sackville Properties vis-a-vis Station Hill? Is all this development really for the town? Don't you just love artist's impressions and poetic licence!

Damocles, Reading
23/07/2009 at 16:56

You're not wrong Shatner's however not everyone looks at the date of the article and the evening post need to help its readers with accurate date information of public exhibitions not only using the word tomorrow which ok would have been fine when the evening post was a daily paper but now it's only 2 days per week it's a poor journalism not to include actual dates.

RYF, Royal County of Berkshire
23/07/2009 at 15:40

Over the years they have spent a fortune changing town centre. Broad Street was pedestranised supposedly because of the many people who collided with the buses and as a result Friar Street became one way. If Friar Street now becomes two way and people continue having accidents with the buses, does that mean Friar Street will eventually be pedestrianised and we will all have to use Vastern Road instead? I fail to see why updating that monstrosity of a station should have to impact the rest of town centre. After all they want more people on the buses but if their access is so curtailed, nobody will use them. People will only use them if it goes to their destination.

Amazed of Caversham!
23/07/2009 at 12:10

"£848m rail station plans go on show By Paul Robins July 23, 2009"

There's a clue in the title.

Shatner's Bassoon
23/07/2009 at 12:08

Is that tomorrow as in Friday 24th July at the civic centre?

Judging by the Adel Taarabt story in the sports section it's probably last week!!

Can the Post put actual days and dates in the articles rather than say today, tomorrow etc?