Media centre

Friday 7 Oct 2016

Reading passengers invited to find out more about benefits of railway alliance

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Passengers using Reading station are invited to find out more about how the Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) alliance is improving their travelling experience at an event on Friday, 14 October.

The two companies signed an alliance in March this year to formalise the way they work together and to commit to joint areas for improvement. This includes improved joint planning for major upgrades such as the electrification of the Great Western Main Line; helping to minimise disruption for passengers.

Members of the public will have the opportunity to speak to GWR and Network Rail staff to find out about how the alliance will deliver a better service both during and after major improvement work. In addition, they’ll be able to find out more about how these improvements are transforming Brunel’s railway, bringing it into the 21st century.

Mark Langman, Network Rail’s managing director for the Western route, said: “The purpose of our alliance is to put passengers at the heart of everything we do.

“As part of our Railway Upgrade Plan to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers, we are undertaking work in Reading and the surrounding areas to prepare the line for electrification. This will pave the way for a new fleet of faster, greener electric trains with more seats and more room for passengers.

“In delivering the improvements we know passengers want , it’s vitally important Network Rail and GWR work together to minimise disruption as much as possible and provide passengers with the best possible service, which is why the alliance is so important.

“Everyone is welcome at our event, so if you’d like to know more about the alliance, our modernisation work or have a question you’d like answered, please come along.”

Mark Hopwood, managing director of GWR, said: “Our railway is going through the biggest investment since Brunel, and we’re making sure customers will see the full benefit of it. Our alliance will help us deliver value for passengers, and together we will capitalise on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

The event at Reading station forms part of a wider alliance roadshow, which began at Bristol Temple Meads station in July and will continue with further events across the Western route.

ENDS

• The event is on Friday, 14 October from 2pm - 4pm near the help desk above platform 7 at Reading Station.