New designs have been revealed as part of planned improvements to Reading West Station, after the initial designs were widely ridiculed last month.

Great Western Railway (GWR) has updated the plans with a new look, following discussions with Reading Borough Council (RBC) and Network Rail.

Latest designs show a newly-designed station building made of brick and glass.

READ MORE: Reading West train station revamp designs ridiculed

Councillor Tony Page, lead member for Strategic Environment, Planning and Transport at RBC, said: “The latest designs for Reading West Station are a huge improvement on the previous draft designs.

“Over the last few weeks, council officers and councillors have worked closely with GWR and its architects to improve all aspects of the designs.

“We now have a proposed station building, constructed from a range of coloured bricks and glass, much more in keeping with the surrounding Oxford Road and the nearby Conservation Area.”

Compare the old and new design

Cllr Page added: “By marginally moving a bus stop and kerb lines on both sides of the road, the footpath directly in front of the station has been widened, addressing concerns expressed about access into and in front of the station.”

The pavement will be three metres wide outside the cafe booth.

The proposals include ‘futureproofing’ the new station building for the installation of lifts at Reading West, but the costs of rebuilding the platforms to enable lifts is currently ‘prohibitive’, according to Network Rail.

Cllr Page added: “While there is no doubt that this scheme is a huge upgrade, it is important to say these improvements are the just the first stage of delivering a wider masterplan for Reading West Station.

“It has been a long-term ambition of Reading Borough Council for lifts to be installed at Reading West.

“However, we are informed by Network Rail that the bulk of the cost for this work comes with rebuilding the train platforms to accommodate the new lifts, rather than the lifts themselves.

“Unfortunately, these works have not been prioritised for funding at this time.

“We shall continue to lobby Government, our local MPs and Network Rail for the funding to deliver new platforms and lifts so as to make Reading West a totally accessible station fit for the 21st century.”

READ MORE: Reading West Station to get £3.3 million overhaul – plans revealed

Planned changes at Reading West include ticket gates at both the Tilehurst Road and Oxford Road entrances to limit access to the station is limited to paying passengers only.

There will also be new lighting, CCTV, toilets, a retail facility and improved waiting areas, aimed at improving safety and security at Reading West.

Outside the station, an improved bus interchange will make it easier for commuters to swap from bus to train, with additional cycle parking also in place.

The full planning application (no. 201448) and latest designs for Reading West Station can be found on the council’s planning portal at http://planning.reading.gov.uk/fastweb_PL/welcome.asp. 

The Planning Applications committee is due to consider the planning application next month.

If approved, initial work could begin as early as March 2021 and the station would be ready by Spring 2022.