Theresa May has welcomed the announcement that Crossrail services will be extended to Twyford and Reading – something she has campaigned for many years to achieve. The Government has announced that Crossrail services will be extended from 2019, meaning that services will terminate at Reading rather than Maidenhead, and will also serve Twyford Station. Theresa has campaigned for Crossrail services to be extended to Reading to ensure that the benefits of Crossrail are experienced by her constituents in Twyford.
The announcement follows Theresa’s meeting with Crossrail Ltd, Network Rail and First Great Western earlier this year to discuss how the extension to Reading could work. Theresa has also discussed the issue with the Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin, and encouraged him to support the extension.
The Department for Transport has confirmed that four trains per hour will serve Maidenhead – as originally planned – with two of these services continuing to Reading via Twyford. There will be no change to planned Great Western franchise services, meaning fast and semi-fast services from Twyford and Maidenhead will continue.
There will also be cost savings due to reduced infrastructure enhancements required at Maidenhead, while only minor works will be required at Twyford and Reading to accommodate Crossrail.
Commenting, Theresa said: “I am delighted the Government has confirmed that Crossrail will be extended to Twyford and Reading. This is great news for my constituents in Twyford and is something that I have been campaigning for over many years. This will ensure that the benefits of Crossrail are extended beyond Maidenhead, without in any way harming services from Maidenhead itself.”
“I have always said that Crossrail is an important addition to local transport links, and that it should complement existing Great Western services. This announcement is an important step and is another example of this Government’s support for transport infrastructure in the Thames Valley area.”
