A NEW-look Reading West station was officially opened on Tuesday, with the mayor the first through the ticket barriers.
The Oxford Road-based ticket office includes additional security measures which it is hoped will clamp down on anti-social behaviour.
It originally opened in 1906 and has serves passengers travelling to and from Reading’s main station, and routes to Taunton, Newbury, Basingstoke and London Paddington.
Now, for the first time in 118 years, it has a dedicated ticket building, created using part of the existing Oxford Road pavement.
The idea was originally conceived in 2015, and had been hoped to open in 2022, but works were delayed.
On Tuesday, the Mayor of Reading Councillor Tony Page (Labour, Abbey) declared the centre open.
“Reading West has for long been the Cinderella in the rail industry, a station that’s been often forgotten, neglected, has been the centre of anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and various other activities for which this stretch of the Oxford Road have been reputed for,” he said.
“It has therefore driven the work that we did with our partners in drawing up a masterplan back in November 2015 which we finalised.
“Today is an important step towards delivering parts of that masterplan.”
He said there is still work to be done, particularly to make the station wheelchair accessible, which will require changes to the composition of the platforms.
Cllr Page also called for netting under the rail bridge to be replaced and cleaned up to prevent pigeon roosting.
To open the station, he pressed a button which activated the ticket gates. Then, using a ticket, he passed through the gates.
Guests could then enjoy a slice of cake cut from replica of the new building.
The station was delivered with the help of the Great Western Railway, Network Rail and the Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which was able to secure £3.1 million for the project.
Alison Webster, the chief executive officer of the LEP, said: “It’s great when a plan comes together. Plans that have been put in place in 2015 and 2016 are just being realised now.
“Every single station from Slough through to West Berkshire has seen some improvement, but here it is really terrific.
“This was such a difficult site to work on. We know that places like Reading West are critical to get commuters to think differently about how they get into the main employment and local commercial centres.”
Joanne Grew, Network Rail industry programme director said: “We hope that with this new facility open we will see new journey opportunities as well as people feel safer and warmer and able to access the facilities that this new building provides.”
The opening was attended by Abbey and Battle ward councillors past and present, including former councillor Gul Khan, as well as Cllr Mark Keeping (Labour, Kentwood) and Cllr Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the deputy council leader. Reading Today editor Phil Creighton was also present.
