More than a quarter of a century after it was first proposed, Green Park Station had its official opening on Thursday (May 25).
Local dignitaries, gathered in their own carriage on the 10.07am service from Reading Station for the seven-minute journey to Reading Green Park, which passed through Reading West, a 1906 station – the last to be built in the the town.
The event was the first public engagement for the new Mayor of Reading, Cllr Tony Page, who, in his 50 years as a councillor, was associated with the plan for Green Park Station from the beginning. He told around 80 guests he is still hopeful the station will yet be served by electric trains, something he has pushed for for years.
The £20 million station, a joint venture between Reading Borough Council, Network Rail and Great Western Railway (GWR) will serve the park’s businesses and residents as well as football fans at the SCL Stadium. The station will also connect to the cycle network.
The opening, two days ahead of the full public opening on May 27, came as Green Park embarks on a £7.9m investment programme and soon after openings of new Tesco Express and Triple Two Coffee outlets nearby.
New amenities will include courts for padel (an increasingly popular racquet sport), doggy daycare and outdoor meeting pods.
The focus on workplace wellbeing responds to increasing demand from businesses and employees.
Rory Carson, Mapletree’s vice president of asset management in the UK, said: “Reading Green Park Station is a game changer for our region.
“Our core belief at Green Park is that people thrive in exceptional environments. The new station brings yet another layer of convenience and flexibility to our community, making it easier for people to enjoy everything that Green Park has to offer – from great places to eat through to wellbeing facilities and access to nature.”
John Ennis, Reading Borough Council’s lead councillor for climate strategy and transport, said: “This is a significant investment for Reading and showcases the region’s position as a key player in the national economy.
“Green Park has been a huge part of the Reading landscape for the last 20 years, as a business park and community partner. Reading Green Park Station starts an exciting new chapter for its businesses, residents, and stakeholders.”
Image (top): Guests gathered outside the station. Below (l-r): Mark Hopwood, managing director of GWR with Mayor of Reading Cllr Tony Page.
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