Reading West railway station

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Reading West

Location

Place

Reading

Local authority

Borough of Reading

Operations

Managed by

First Great Western

Platforms in use

Annual Passenger Usage

2004/05 **

0.152 million

History

Key dates

Opened 1906

National Rail - UK railway stations

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T
U V W X Y Z

Annual passenger usage based on sales of tickets in stated financial year(s) which end or originate at Reading West (source)

* 2002/03 Disclaimer
** 2004/05 Disclaimer

UK Rail Portal

Reading West is a railway station in Reading in England. It is situated to the west of the town centre, about one mile from the main retail and commercial areas. The station was opened on July 1, 1906, originally to serve trains from the north of England to the south coast which could thus avoid a reversal at Reading station.^[1]^[2]

The station is served by local services operated by First Great Western from Reading station to Basingstoke, Newbury, and Great Bedwyn. Passenger services on First Great Western's route to the West Country via Taunton, and on Virgin Trains services from the North of England to Southampton and Bournemouth, pass through the station without stopping.

Immediately to the north of the platforms there is a double track junction (Oxford Road Junction) which is the southern apex of a triangle of tracks. The tracks to the west curve round to join the original Great Western main line towards Bristol at Reading West Junction, and are largely used by freight trains between Southampton Docks and points to the north. The tracks to the east lead to Reading station and are mostly used by passenger sevices.

Reading locomotive depot is situated inside the triangle on two levels. The upper level provides stabling for the Class 165 and Class 166 diesel multiple units used on First Great Western's local routes. The lower level originally provided shed space for locomotives, but is now principally used for stabling and maintaining track maintenance equipment.