Rail disruption could last seven years during £400m vital work

Hundreds of rail passengers could face another seven years of ‘travel misery’ during a £400million major rail improvement project at Reading Train Station due to start at the end of the year.

Network Rail aims to improve the lines in and out of Reading Station meaning better travel times in the long term. At the moment freight trains share the same track as passenger trains meaning long waits outside the station while trains move. The project is due to be completed in 2017.

Network Rail is now surveying the area to make sure the minimum amount of disruption is caused by the works when they start around Christmas time.

But travel chaos fears have been raised in the interim by frustrated passengers who say trains are already a nightmare in and out of Maidenhead.

Figures obtained from a freedom of information request revealed that on one particular service - the 9.06am from Maidenhead to Oxford - has only arrived in Maidenhead on time 16 per cent of the time.

Passengers also already face overcrowding after First Great Western shortened the number of train carriages in January this year for a two-year carriage refurbishment project.

Passenger Association Chairman Susan Morrison said: “It is a catch 22 situation. It is the right thing to do long term but in the mean time it spells misery for travellers.”

A Network Rail spokesman said the improvements would deliver more trains, faster journeys and improved reliability. To create as little disruption as possible plans could be to carry out the works only at weekends, holiday periods or during the night.