Reading Station Closed over Easter

Passengers will face delays to their rail journeys over Easter when the next phase of Reading Station's £895m facelift takes a huge step forward.

Disruption is mainly expected from now until Sunday, April 7, but a major new look - four platforms, two entrances and a link bridge should be open for use by Tuesday, April 2, when commuters return to work after the Easter break.

All lines between Maidenhead and Didcot, and between Heathrow Airport and Slough, will be closed throughout the weekend and lines between Slough and Maidenhead will be closed on Sunday, March 31, with replacement buses available.

Minor work will take place from Saturday, April 6 to Monday, April 8, with lines closed between Maidenhead and Didcot. On Sunday, April 7, there will be no trains between Reading and Theale or Reading and Basingstoke, with a replacement bus service.

Bill Henry, Network Rail programme director, said: "We realise it will be an inconvenience to passengers to plan alternative routes while we undertake the most ambitious part of this massive project to date. If there was any other way that we could deliver the improvements we would do it."

Platforms will change for most trains so customers are advised to check on information boards and online ahead of their journey.

Following this work, there will be another year's improvements planned, including the demolition of the obsolete link bridge and replacing old canopies and platforms.

http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/reading/articles/2013/03/21/87728-commuters-warned-of-rail-disruption/

http://www.getreading.co.uk/business/s/2121269_reading_station_redevelopment_will_cause_disruption_at_easter