AN ENTRANCE to one of Reading’s railway stations will take place from Monday as work to modernise it continues.
GWR is carrying out improvement works to Reading West, and as part of its programme it needs to shut the Tilehurst Road entrance.
As well as the closure of the Tilehurst Road entrance, GWR will need to close the footbridge over the railway at Tilehurst Road in order to undertake the works. A temporary footway for pedestrians, complete with safety barrier, will be provided on Tilehurst Road, which will also require temporary traffic signals.
The temporary closure is currently expected to run until mid-November, and the Oxford Road entrance will remain open.
This is to allow the installation of new ticket barriers and lighting, which is hoped will improve safety and security, ending anti-social behaviour.
In all, the project is expected to cost £3.3 million project to transform Reading West.
Other improvements includes a new station building on the Oxford Road, new toilets and a retail facility.
A new bus interchange and improved cycle parking are also part of the scheme, as are the improvements to the Tilehurst Road entrance.
Following preparatory works carried out by the Council, it handed the site over to GWR in July ahead of the next phase of work which sees the construction of the new building and the improvements to the Tilehurst Road entrance.
Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said: “The necessary temporary closure of the Tilehurst Road entrance to Reading West by GWR means it is important that residents and regular rail commuters build in additional time to their journeys.
“They will now need to walk around to the Oxford Road entrance to access both platforms while the improvement works take place over the coming weeks.”
He added: “We would ask people to bear with us during this temporary inconvenience, including the temporary traffic signals on Tilehurst Road.
“The end result will be a safer station environment, delivered through the design and day-to-day operation of Reading West, which includes new ticket gates to limit access to the station to paying customers, new lighting, CCTV, toilets, a retail facility and better waiting areas.”
GWR’s estimate for completion of Reading West is early 2023.
