£4m makeover of station to make it accessible to all

ONE of the town’s four railway stations is to be given a £4 million makeover to make it more accessible.

More than 500,000 people use Tilehurst station every year, and the work starting later this spring will see lifts and walkways installed to ensure all its platforms are accessible. It should be completed by the autumn.

The scheme is the latest investment by Network Rail in the Reading area and provides further improvement to Tilehurst station, following the installation of a new footbridge.

Alan Gough, Network

Rail project sponsor, said: “This project continues our improvements to Tilehurst station and will ensure even more people can use our railway.

“It’s the latest scheme in the Reading area to deliver sustainable travel, reduce congestion on the roads and provide cleaner air in the Thames Valley.

“We will work closely with our partners at Great Western Railway and with the local community to ensure disruption to passengers and local residents and businesses is kept to a minimum during the work.”

The news has been welcomed by Reading West MP

Sir Alok Sharma, who said he had campaigned for the funding for many years.

“I am absolutely delighted that final funding for construction at Tilehurst station has been approved,” he said.

“Working with Network Rail and Great Western Railway, I have lobbied the Department for Transport extensively to ensure that funding is provided for the installation of lifts.

“This is vitally important for many local commuters, particularly wheelchair users and parents with pushchairs and buggies, so I am delighted that we are one step closer to finally improvising accessibility at Tilehurst station.”