Reading rail station revamp 'a year ahead of schedule'

Platforms are being extended and straightened to accommodate longer trains

The £895m Reading railway station upgrade will finish a year ahead of schedule, Network Rail has said.

A new deadline is partly possible due to "periods of not having trains running through Reading" after this year to speed up building work.

Short-term disruption is worth it because of journey benefits once work is completed, a spokesman said.

The original aim was to complete work by the end of 2016 but now work is scheduled to finish by the end of 2015.

'Well on target'

Station redevelopment project leader Bill Henry said: "With the progress that's been made to date we've actually knocked a year off the schedule.

"We're well on target now for completing by the end of 2015."

A Network Rail spokesman said: "We have agreed some periods of not having trains running through Reading.

"There is going to be a short period where there will be some disruption at Reading - but not this year.

"But as a result journeys will be improved. The short-term disruption is worth putting up with."