Reading station disruption

The engineering work at Reading station is still causing a knock-on effect for passengers using services into Paddington station. Simon Harris reports.

First Great Western have said they are running a revised timetable today after problems caused by the upgrade work at Reading station. The timetable will operate until April 8th when the work is completed. Passengers are asked to check their website for details of which trains are affected.

First Great Western Trains have tonight issued an apology for today's travel chaos at Reading Station:

First Great Western would like to apologise for the delays to some services in the Thames Valley which were compounded by the very limited capacity at Reading Station.

Having re-evaluated our plans for the remainder of the week with Network Rail and other Train Operating Companies, a revised timetable will be in operation.

Our normal timetable will resume once Network Rail has completed their work on 8 April.

The statement advises checking their website for updates.

First Great Western services westbound from Paddington are facing serious delays and cancellations. Check their live departures board here for more information

Train planners at Reading meeting now to sort out disruption.

Train services through Reading Station are in chaos tonight and there could be problems tomorrow.

It follows disruption this morning when engineering works overran to allow the opening of the first phase of the new £900m station. A broken down train and signal problems added to the disruption.

It has now been revealed that because trains were left in the wrong place some drivers can no longer work trains because they would be in breach safety rules to limit how long they can spend in the cab.

Trains to Newbury, Paddington, Basingstoke and Oxford have been hit with cancellations.

Part of the station remains closed to allow for more work but it appears that too many trains have been timetables to run than than the station can cope with.

Managers are meeting tonight to consider reducing the planned service for tomorrow.

Reading Station re-opened this morning with new platforms, two entrances and a new bridge.

But commuters were faced with familiar excuses for delays, as work on the big re-opening after the Easter weekend overran.

But after 20 years of campaigning for improvements, did passengers believe the work will be worth it in the end? Mike Pearse went to find out.

Our transport correspondent Mike Pearse has been following the refurbishment of Reading Station as part of a £900m investment in the railway network. His report includes an interview with Dan Panes from First Great Western.