TfL Rail begins operating services between London Paddington and Reading

Services between London Paddington and Reading are now in operation under TfL Rail, with customers benefiting from improvements such as improved customer information and new lifts within the next year.

On the TfL Rail service, Freedom Pass holders will have access to free travel to Reading, with families also benefiting from free travel for children under the age of 11 when they travel with a paying adult. Customers at Iver and Taplow will also be offered a train service on a Sunday, with two trains running per hour to the capital.

All TfL Rail stations are staffed from first to last train, which is said to provide a turn-up-and-go service for disabled customers and a point of contact for anyone needing assistance. Several stations will also benefit from improved CCTV and lighting, creating a safer environment in and around the stations.

Ticket offices are also being refurbished, with many stations including Iver and Hayes & Harlington due to have completely new tickets halls and offices, and more to become step-free in 2020.

Nigel Horton-Baker, Executive Director, Reading UK, said: “Excellent connectivity has always been at the heart of Reading’s economic success. With the introduction of TfL Rail trains and contactless ticketing as a pre-cursor to the full opening of the Elizabeth line, Reading and Reading businesses are now literally on the London transport network map, helping further the business relationships between London and the capital of the Thames Valley.” 

The new services will be operated by MTR Elizabeth line, on behalf of TfL, with new Elizabeth line trains running between London Paddington and Reading. These will provide customers with walk-through carriages, dedicated wheelchair spaces and additional multi-use spaces for buggies and luggage. The trains will initially run with seven carriages as software updates continue to be implemented and tested before being increased to full-length nine-carriage trains.

From 2 January 2020, customers will be able to use contactless pay as you go for the first time between London Paddington and Reading, with daily and weekly capping expected to be introduced in spring 2020.