|
|
24/7/07 : Reading Station Project Gets Go-Ahead
The Labour Government has announced £515 million plans to get rid of the delays at Reading Station and double the number of trains that can use it, following a major lobbying effort led by Reading's Labour Council, working with the Government Office for the South East, the South East England Regional Assembly, and the train operators. The project, supported by business groups throughout the south east, and by local organisations such as the Reading Chamber of Commerce and Thames Valley Economic Partnership, is one of the most important rail schemes in the UK over the next decade.
The Reading Station project will include improvements to existing platforms and new additional platforms. Current platforms within the station will remain open whilst new ones are built to the north of the station - this will minimise disruption to current rail services during construction, which is expected to take up to seven years.
As part of the scheme, Cow Lane Bridge will have to be closed, and the building of a new bridge at Scours Lane and a new road just north of the railway line from Scours Lane to Richfield Avenue are included in the project. This will provide a solution to the congestion caused by the bridges, which has been a local priority for over 20 years.
Welcoming the news Tom Crisp, Labour's Lead Councillor for Transport, says: "This is incredible news for Reading. It is an opportunity for us to make sure we get local issues solved, like Cow Lane Bridges, and support a scheme that will hugely benefit the national rail system and Reading commuters and other rail passengers."
Back to News Archive
|
|
|
|
|
|
