Crossrail ‘should be extended’ to Reading

Reading’s transport leader, Cllr Tony Page has urged transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin to extend Crossrail to Reading.

Page calls for the £16bn London rail link to run into Reading, which has the additional capacity as a major employment destination. Under current plans, Crossrail terminates at Maidenhead.

Cllr Page wrote in his letter to McLoughlin that the proposed Crossrail to Maidenhead service of two trains per hour between Reading, Twyford and Maidenhead was “not considered adequate” for Reading. He added that there would be “cost savings by not installing unneeded infrastructure at Maidenhead”.

Tory Reading East MP Rob Wilson said: “It is highly likely commuters would still take the fast train and tube as it would be quicker. I accept there are capacity issues, but I am not sure slow trains to east London is the best and financially efficient way to solve it.”

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Image c. Crossrail Ltd