Train travel to Reading guide

Reading railway station is located on the northern edge of Reading town in Berkshire, England, near major retail and commercial areas as well as the River Thames. As the main transport hub of Reading, it is the busiest station in Berkshire and the second busiest interchange station outside of London. Opened in 1840, the station has undergone several expansions, with the most recent reconstruction from 2009 to 2015 adding new platforms, street entrances, ticket offices, pedestrian bridges, and bicycle lanes.

Popular routes from Reading Station include Reading to London Paddington, Reading to Birmingham New Street, and Reading to Oxford. Every August, Reading hosts a three-day music festival, one of the most famous music festivals in the UK, attracting a large number of tourists and music enthusiasts. The festival venue is conveniently close to Reading Station, making it easy for visitors to reach the event on foot.

Which train companies run trains to Reading?

Depending on when you travel, you should find services run to and from Reading provided by the following: Elizabeth line, Great Western Railway and South Western Railway. Journey duration and price can vary depending on who you travel with so it's always worth checking when booking.

What are Reading's opening hours?

You can expect Reading to be open between the hours of 0:01 and 23:59, which are when the first and last train depart, but ensure you check prior to your journey as this is subject to change.

Pick up & drop off at Reading

Reading provides parking and pick-up/drop-off services for convenient travel.

Connectivity of the Reading?

With frequent trains to Reading from hubs like London, London Paddington, Bristol, Birmingham and Oxford, travel to and from the station is convenient. Complementary options like buses and taxis are also available for further transit, but checking availability in advance is recommended.

Reading live timetable

Our live timetable provides real-time information on train schedules and services for passengers travelling to and from Reading, check now to plan your next journey.

  • Departures

  • Arrivals

TrainTimeDurationTrain OperatorStatus
Reading to Hereford12:192h 10mGreat Western RailwayExp. 12:39
Reading to London Paddington12:2025mGreat Western RailwayOn time
Reading to Didcot Parkway12:2124mGreat Western RailwayOn time
Reading to London Paddington12:2326mGreat Western RailwayOn time
Reading to Gatwick Airport12:241h 31mGreat Western RailwayOn time
TrainTimeDurationTrain OperatorStatus
London Paddington to Reading12:1622mGreat Western RailwayExp. 12:38
Newbury to Reading12:1824mGreat Western RailwayOn time
Cardiff Central to Reading12:201h 31mGreat Western RailwayOn time
Basingstoke to Reading12:2328mGreat Western RailwayOn time
London Paddington to Reading12:2324mGreat Western RailwayOn time

Station Details

Address

Reading station, Station Hill, Reading, Berkshire, RG1 1LZ

Ticket Office opening hours:

Monday to Friday open from 05:15:00 until 22:45:00

Saturday open from 05:30:00 until 22:45:00

Sunday open from 07:15:00 until 22:45:00

Ticket Machine

Available

Facilities

Toilets

Toilets

Shops

Shops

Station Buffet

Station Buffet

ATM

ATM

Bicycle Facilities

Cycle storage

Cycle storage CCTV

Cycle storage notes

Services

Accessbility Facilities

Accessible Booking Office counter

Wheelchairs

Accessible ticket machines

Step-free access

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