I have noted before under a previous article that the plans for the new station were displayed in a dilapidated shop opposite the station.

The new station plans look like an Asda supermarket frontage and totally out of keeping for the rich history of the GWR major station.

At least keep the frontage of the 3 Guineas as part of the new station, then demolish the rest of the 1970s tcket hall.

   The aussies call us "whinging poms", and things like this highlight why. Some people just need an excuse to moan about anything. Where were the Victorian society when the appendage in the photo at the head of the article was tacked onto the original station building? Why was it not designed in a "victorianesque" fashion, complete with gas lamps and cast iron detailing? The answer is cost. Reading's station's usage has outgrown its capacity, and the busiest railway station in the Uk outside of London has got to be expanded to cope with the passenger numbers. Yeah, sure, we could build a brand new mock St,Pancras, but the same people who want it built in this fashion will be those grizzling about the ridiculous cost of the project to the taxpayer/passenger. Reading's original station building may be old, but we're hardly talking about Canterbury cathedral here, and in any case, the appendage in the photograph has the same effect on the original station building as if Trade Mark had stuck a uPVC conservatory onto the nave of said cathedral. In public buildings, planners and designers have to balance "preserving our heritage" with the needs of the structure today against the design brief that the building was built to in years gone by. Sometimes, resoration and subtle changes in the use of space can achieve great results which reinvigorate an old building. I refer you to the Town Hall, and the West Reading library. However, sometimes the limitations of the original design proclude this. The track and platform layout has been in its current form for donkey's years, and has not kept pace the ever increasing passenger numbers. Reading station does not need a Band aid, it needs major surgery. Our station was has been largely spoilt in an architectural sense, by the carbuncle anyway. If you want to see a station with architectural merit, check out Brunel's work at Slough station. If preserving the past regardless of cost or suitability is the only thing that matters to you, I suggest you go and work and live in a museum.

   Don't destroy the old building-renovate it! It's a great piece of Reading's history!

   (sorry if I am repeating myself) yes St Louis totally destroyed the railway stn here, turned into a Mall, hotel etc..but then again Readings history was GWR (Gods wonderfull Railway)...why dont they 'give it that victorain look' instead of all glass and metal???

   yes here in St Louis (I know I am a long way from Home) they did turn the railway stn into a luxury hotel, a shopping mall, and a few bars......Tragic really, I hope that the OLD GWR building will remain

   HORNBEAM, Have you had to endure late night buses home, journey time 1 1/2 hours with a bus driver with a golden cap who sticks to the timetable (made for buses, not trains) that have set down passenger only rules, but still wait at a station until it's time to leave, with no-one even getting off of that station? I have for the last 12 months, and paying the full fare, to which i will be in a minority sitting next to a snoring drunken suited person dribbling down their chin! Not funny, not clever.

   The impression I got from looking at the plans on display on Station Hill was that the building housing the 3 Guineas would remain, but the rest of the station building to the west of the 3G building would be demolished...?

   Blandy, Im not sure that St Louis city council have enough money to convert the main P.O into a yates wine lodge..mind you they DID turn the main train station into a luxury hotel, shopping Mall, and some Bars!! (now theres a thought!!) knock down the whole station, let ppl get the train at Reading west or HoT, and just turn Reading station into one whole pub?? (said very tongue in cheek!)..steve p.s anyone know when 'cemetary junction' is coming out at the pictures, and indeed what its about..cheers

   This all overlooks a pretty important point – no-one, not the Council, and not Network Rail, is proposing to demolish the Three Guineas. The plans actually go out of their way to give that building a central role in the new station. See the planning application, on the Council’s website. The article is pretty misleading to say the least.



What is going to be demolished is some single-story stuff adjoining the building to the west.

   WTF why spend the money on this? Because people like me need to travel! I dont want to be rude but whats your logic?! Network rail want to spend money on their railway- works for me. If they pay for a new school fat lot of use to me or anyone else who uses the station. How would you feel if you were told you had to pay my electric bill?

   I Ron- Reading does need a whole new station. There are not enough platforms to cope with the amount of trains that use it. To create extra capacity you just cant stick another few platforms on one side.

As for late night engineering work its going to have to happen.

I was lead to believe the old station would be used as an enterance. We have so few old buildings left as it is!! Typical council they are clueless.

Also they are having to demolish, rather than rebuild the footbridge that was built in 1987. Why? because its to low for the new electic wires!!! Hoe short sighted.

   If it was removed I don't think anyone would actually miss it.

While their demolisihing it if they could accidentally knock down the thames tower I dont think anyone would complain :)

   Get rid of it. Who cares? It's just bricks and mortar.

   local girl! my point is WHY SPEND THE MONEY ON THIS!!!!!!! yes it is network rail but does that mean that a huge company cannot copntribute to the town its in?!!!

   Norbert, whilst listing offers some protection it's not a foregone conclusion that it can be retained indefinitely. There are several listed properties in Reading that have been demolished in the time I have lived here. They simple get so run down by the savvy landlords/owners who then sell the land for a huge profit and the building gets flattened.

Sadly the council are not very focused on retaining the little heritage that remains. I could go on . . . . :-(