Description
The station has two platforms linked by a footbridge. Small canopies provide some shelter on each platform. There is a ticket office on the Reading-bound platform but is open only in the morning. Access to the station is from Oxford Road and Tilehurst Road.
Immediately north of the platforms is a railway bridge over the Oxford Road, followed by a double track junction (Oxford Road Junction) which is the southern apex of a triangle of tracks. The tracks to the west curve round to join the Great Western Main Line towards Bristol at Reading West Junction, and are largely used by freight trains between Southampton Docks and points to the north. The tracks to the east lead to Reading station and are mostly used by passenger services.
Reading Traction Maintenance Depot (TMD) is inside the triangle on two levels. The upper level provides stabling for the Class 165 and Class 166 diesel multiple units used on First Great Western's local routes. The lower level originally provided shed space for locomotives, but is now principally used for stabling and maintaining track maintenance equipment.
To the south of the station the line enters a cutting, crossed by high level bridges carrying the Tilehurst Road and, further to the south, the Bath Road. Beyond the cutting is Southcote Junction, where the line to Basingstoke diverges from that to Newbury.
Read more about this topic: Reading West Railway Station
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