Drone footage unveils Reading’s new Green Park station
Reading Borough Council has released aerial drone footage of the new Reading Green Park Station, Reading’s first new station since the opening of Reading West in 1906.
The new station, which is now expected to open early next year after the government commissioning process is finalised, will sit on the Reading to Basingstoke line, providing a half-hourly service north to Reading and south to Basingstoke.
Delivered by Reading Borough Council, Network Rail and Great Western Railway, Reading Green Park features: two 150m platforms; a new accessible station building and overbridge to provide access via stairs and lifts; a bus interchange, taxi rank and cycle parking facilities; and two car parks, including 12 blue badge spaces, drop-off parking and long-stay parking for commuters.
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Tony Page, Reading Borough Council’s Lead Councillor for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport, said: “It is impressive to see the totality of what has been achieved at Reading Green Park Station, to date, in our latest drone footage. With the station construction complete, it now enters the commissioning period, which will come to fruition early next year.
“As with any project of this scale, we have faced many challenges on the schedule - early on from material shortages and, more recently, with unforeseen power supply issues. The completion of the building work is a significant step forward and we now turn our sights to early 2023, when the application to open will be submitted to the Office of Road and Rail.
“When operational, Reading Green Park Station will form an integral part of Reading’s ever-growing sustainable transport infrastructure with more homes, businesses and leisure developments planned in the south of the borough. It will also be another option for football fans heading to the Stadium on match days, again taking the pressure off our busy roads.”
Once operational, Reading Green Park is expected to reduce congestion on the A33 through providing an alternative way to transport. It will also make travelling into south Reading easier, offering better access to the Select Car Leasing Stadium and the expanding Green Park Business Park and Green Park Village.
The next step is a detailed commissioning and safety validation process, already underway, which needs to be completed and approved by the Office of Rail and Road before the station comes into operation.
GWR Business Development Director, Tom Pierpoint, said: “We are working closely with the Council and Network Rail to deliver half-hourly services, better connecting the communities we serve.
“Reading is a key destination on our network and this new station will help to secure the economic prosperity of the region as we seek to build back better from the pandemic.”
Joanna Grew, Network Rail industry programme director – Heathrow & Thames Valley, said: “Once in service, Reading Green Park Station will play an important role in connecting communities between Reading and Basingstoke through regular and reliable sustainable transport while reducing the level of traffic on the A33.
“The safety of passengers and our staff is our number one priority and now construction is complete, we will be working closely with GWR to complete a detailed safety evaluation to ensure the station is safe and ready to welcome its first trains and passengers next year.”
Reading Green Park station feeds into wider infrastructure improvements in the town. Earlier this month, the disparate sections of the Elizabeth line were connected, meaning passengers can now travel into central London without switching at Paddington.
Along with this, Reading’s second newest station, Reading West, is currently under being redeveloped to add a new ticket office.
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All images: Reading Borough Council
