Trains to Reading - Station Details and further Information on the Reading Area
Reading train station (formerly Reading General) is a major rail transport hub in the English town of Reading. It is situated on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the River Thames. Adjacent to the train station is a bus interchange, served by most of Reading's urban and rural bus services.
Reading is a major junction point on the National Rail system, and as a consequence the train station is a major transfer point as well as serving heavy originating and terminating traffic.
The main rail route served by the station is the Great Western Main Line, which runs west from London's Paddington station before splitting to the west of Reading station into two lines, one serving the West Country, and the other Bristol, Bath, Newport and Cardiff. Services on these lines are operated by First Great Western, and almost all services stop at Reading.
Other main lines connect Reading with Birmingham (serving both New Street and International stations), northern England and Scotland to the north, and with Winchester, Southampton and Bournemouth to the south. Through services from north to south on these lines are operated by CrossCountry, and all services, other than a few special summer-only services, stop in Reading.
The secondary North Downs Line connects Reading with Guildford and Gatwick Airport. Services on this line, together with local stopping services to Basingstoke, Newbury, Bedwyn, Oxford and London Paddington, are also operated by First Great Western. An electric suburban line operated by South West Trains links Reading to London Waterloo station. An express bus service operated by First Great Western links Reading with Heathrow Airport. |
