What is Reading railway station?
{{Infobox UK station | name = Reading | image = Reading railway station MMB 65 458011 458017.jpg | caption = A [[South Western Railway train]] stopped at Reading station with a service to [[Waterloo station]] | railcode = RDG | manager = Network Rail | latitude = 51.4594 | longitude = -0.9732 | locale = [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] | borough = [[Borough of Reading]] | platforms = 15 | start = 1840 | original = [[Great Western Railway]] }} '''Reading railway station''' (formerly '''Reading General''') is a major rail junction and station in the [[England|English]] town of [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]]. It is on the northern edge of the town centre, close to the main retail and commercial areas, and also the [[River Thames]]. Next to the railway station is a [[bus interchange]], served by most of Reading's urban and rural bus services. Reading was opened on 30 March 1840, by the [[Great Western Railway]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Butt |first=R.V.J. |title=The Directory of Railway Stations |year=1995 |publisher=Patrick Stephens Ltd |location=Yeovil |isbn=1-85260-508-1 |id=R508 |page=195 }}</ref> It is a major junction point on the [[National Rail]] system, and as a consequence the railway station is a major transfer point as well as serving heavy local traffic. The station is sponsored by the bank [[ING Direct]] and the [[University of Reading]]. There are many local buses, regional buses and a coach to [[Heathrow Airport]]. [[South West Trains]], [[First Great Western]] and [[CrossCountry]] serve the station. ==Pictures== <gallery> File:Reading station frontage.jpg|Reading station frontage, showing the old (1860) and new station buildings. File:Reading station 1865.jpg|The Great Western Railway station (on right of picture) in 1865. The former [[Reading Southern railway station|Southern station]] is on the left. </gallery> ==References== {{commonscat|Reading railway station}} {{reflist}} {{Transport-stub}} [[Category:Railway stations in England]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Berkshire]]