CROSSRAIL must be brought to Reading to prevent the town's railway station revamp turning into an �895m white elephant.

That is the message to the Government today from Reading Borough Council in a strongly argued case to Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin that the benefits of the station redevelopment and improvements to track layouts will be wasted if he allows the Crossrail western terminus to remain at Maidenhead.

Borough transport leader Tony Page says: "Reading Borough Council sees every reason to extend Crossrail and its services to Reading and I would urge you to make an early announcement to this effect."

In his 1,100-word letter to Mr McLoughlin, Cllr Page calls for the proposed Green Park Station, with its 600-space car park for commuters, to be built "as soon as possible" and urges progress on introducing electrification and the Heathrow Airport western access - and integrating them in the advances already being made at Reading.

Cllr Page warns: "Reading Borough Council is anxious to see Reading Station benefit from improved rail services, not remain a convenient place to transfer rail passengers onto replacement coaches for all points of the compass."

He tells Mr McLoughlin of "major local concerns and uncertainty" since the Great Western route franchising route was suspended in January but says that now gives him the chance to extend Crossrail.

Cllr Pages stresses the council's "very strong support" for Crossrail but says: ""Whilst peak London commuter capacity is a key driver of the service it must not be overlooked that Reading itself is a key, major employment centre and destination. Therefore, the proposed 'post Crossrail to Maidenhead' service of just two trains per hour between Reading, Twyford and Maidenhead is not considered adequate. A much better solution would be to extend Crossrail to Reading from the start and not terminate the service at Maidenhead."

Cllr Page adds: "There would be cost savings by not installing unneeded infrastructure at Maidenhead, and you will be aware passive provision for Crossrail has already been included in the current remodelling of Reading Station."

Crossrail, scheduled for completion in 2017, will link Berkshire to Shenfield in Essex, via Paddington and Liverpool Street stations.

Cllr Page says extending it will bring much-needed extra rail capacity to Reading and the wider Thames Valley, cutting delays and passenger overcrowding. He points out it would acknowledge Reading as a key, major employment centre and destination and make optimum use of the station revamp, with its increased capacity opening up possibilities for addition Crossrail links in future.

The letter ends: "Reading Borough Council would like to express its full support for developing and promoting rail travel and to work pro-actively with Network Rail, train operating companies and the Department for Transport to deliver continuing improvements to important local and national rail services that depend on the efficient and proper working of Reading Station."

Reading East MP Rob Wilson said: "It is interesting that a Labour council is asking a Conservative-led Government to deliver what the last Labour Government failed to do. I accept there are capacity issues, but I am not sure slow trains to the east London is the best and financially efficient way to solve it."