New train station marks one-year milestone after 160,000 passengers pass through

The new Reading Green Park station has hit its goal of 160,000 journeys in its first year since opening.

Celebrations were in full swing on Thursday, May 23, the first anniversary of the opening of the station. In that time 159,724 passenger journeys have been made, benefitting local residents, the football club and businesses in the Green Park area.

Representatives from Reading Football Club, Great Western Railway, and Reading Borough Council met at the station for a special celebration, with football shirts made-up to showcase the success of the new station.

Cllr John Ennis, lead councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport at Reading Borough Council, said:  “The opening of Reading Green Park station has provided a great extra travel option for residents and businesses in south Reading, as well as football fans travelling to Reading FC games at the Select Car Leasing Stadium.

“The fact that journey numbers have surpassed expectation in the first year shows that people will choose sustainable ways of travelling if they are good quality and easy and convenient to use.

“Reading Council has introduced the Buzz 9 bus route to service Reading Green Park station and recently worked with Great Western Railway and Network Rail on the excellent upgrade of Reading West station.

“We will continue to work with our partners to improve public transport and active travel options in Reading to cut carbon emissions, reduce air pollution and benefit residents’ health.”

Passenger services begin at Reading Green Park on Saturday, May 27, after an opening event on Thursday, May 25, 2023, and the town’s first new station in 116 years opened its doors.

The station sits on the Reading to Basingstoke line, with half-hourly services running north to Reading and south to Basingstoke through the day.

GWR Regional Development Manager Eleanor Wills said: “New stations such as Reading Green Park are vital in bringing the railway closer to people as we all become more mindful to live and travel more sustainably.

“Reading Green Park is a real success story and these passenger numbers clearly show how important good transport links are for the local economy, to local people, businesses and the wider community.”

Reading Green Park was the first of three new Great Western Railway (GWR) stations opened last year, along with Portway Park & Ride in Bristol and Marsh Barton in Exeter.

Joanna Grew, Network Rail's Industry Programme Director for the Thames Valley said: "A growing railway network is good for passengers, the economy and the environment. And Reading Green Park's success shows what's possible when you closely collaborate with partners such as Reading Borough Council and GWR. It's a model we are using right across the Thames Valley for the benefit of all our customers."

The new station provides improved sustainable travel options for local residents and businesses in the Green Park area, as well as fans attending events at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, home of Reading Football Club.

Further improvements in the Berkshire area in the last six months have seen a new modern station building opened at Reading West on March 19. The transformation  includes new ticket gates, new lighting and CCTV cameras to significantly improve safety and security of the local community and travelling public.