Theale station to receive an upgrade

The project will involve a new ticket office, footbridge and lifts as well as the development of a park-and-rail facility and a new pedestrian entrance from Brunel Road.
Funding for the scheme has come from a joint bid from West Berkshire and Reading Borough Councils through the Department of Transport’s local sustainable transport fund with the district council contributing £1.127 million to the project.
West Berkshire’s executive for transport policy, Hilary Cole, said: “The council worked hard to secure this money so that local people and businesses could benefit from the improvements without cost to the local tax payer.”
The Theale upgrade follows a recent makeover at nearby stations including Pangbourne and the £895 million improvement currently under way at Reading station.
The district councillor for Theale, Alan Macro, said that the work were long overdue and that the finished scheme would greatly benefit commuters.
“We get over 400,000 passengers through Theale every year and we deserve some decent facilities. Now we get a booking office more worthy of the name,” he said.
Work to upgrade the station is expected to begin in October and be completed in February 2014.