The station has two
side platforms, on either side of the twin track line. A large two-storey station building is situated on the Reading-bound (westernmost) platform. The two platforms are linked by a footbridge over the tracks, and the London-bound platform has a waiting room. The station is accessed by an approach road from the nearby main road between Reading and Wokingham, and on this approach is a terrace of three single storey cottages that were built for the
South Eastern Railway at the same time as the station, to house railway staff and their families.
By the time Earley station opened, the Staines, Wokingham & Woking Junction Railway (SW&WJR) was also operating a service between
London Waterloo and Reading Southern station that used
running powers over the SER through Earley station. The SW&WJR was absorbed by the
London & South Western Railway (L&SWR) in 1878, and the L&SWR continued to operate over SER tracks until both railway companies became part of the
Southern Railway in 1923.[5][6]
In 1939, the line through Earley station was
electrified, on the
DCthird rail system, as part of the electrification of the Reading to London Waterloo service. Trains on the original SER route to
Guildford and
Reigate continued to be steam hauled.[7]
In 1948, the Southern Railway and the
Great Western Railway (GWR), which also served Reading, were nationalised and merged with other newly nationalised railways to create
British Railways. As a result of British Railways'
1955 Modernisation Plan, diesel traction replaced steam on the non-electrified services through Earley. In 1965, Reading Southern station closed, and the service was diverted into the adjacent, former GWR, Reading station.[8][9]
Services
Earley station is served by
South Western Railway electric services between Reading and
London Waterloo, which run half-hourly outside peak periods and at weekends, with additional trains during weekday peak hours.
Great Western Railway trains on the
North Downs Line pass through the station without stopping.
^Her Majesty's Government (1947).
"Transport Act 1947". The Railways Archive. (originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office). Retrieved 25 November 2006.
Bibliography
Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd.
ISBN1-85260-508-1. R508.
Kidner, R.W. (1982) [1974]. The Reading to Tonbridge Line. Locomotion Papers (3rd ed.). Salisbury: The Oakwood Press.
ISSN0305-5493. LP79.
Matthews, Rupert (2006). Lost Railways of Berkshire. Newbury: Countryside Books.
ISBN1-85306-990-6.
Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (1989). Branch lines around Ascot (1st ed.). Midhurst: Middleton Press.
ISBN978 0 906520 64 2.
The station has two
side platforms, on either side of the twin track line. A large two-storey station building is situated on the Reading-bound (westernmost) platform. The two platforms are linked by a footbridge over the tracks, and the London-bound platform has a waiting room. The station is accessed by an approach road from the nearby main road between Reading and Wokingham, and on this approach is a terrace of three single storey cottages that were built for the
South Eastern Railway at the same time as the station, to house railway staff and their families.
By the time Earley station opened, the Staines, Wokingham & Woking Junction Railway (SW&WJR) was also operating a service between
London Waterloo and Reading Southern station that used
running powers over the SER through Earley station. The SW&WJR was absorbed by the
London & South Western Railway (L&SWR) in 1878, and the L&SWR continued to operate over SER tracks until both railway companies became part of the
Southern Railway in 1923.[5][6]
In 1939, the line through Earley station was
electrified, on the
DCthird rail system, as part of the electrification of the Reading to London Waterloo service. Trains on the original SER route to
Guildford and
Reigate continued to be steam hauled.[7]
In 1948, the Southern Railway and the
Great Western Railway (GWR), which also served Reading, were nationalised and merged with other newly nationalised railways to create
British Railways. As a result of British Railways'
1955 Modernisation Plan, diesel traction replaced steam on the non-electrified services through Earley. In 1965, Reading Southern station closed, and the service was diverted into the adjacent, former GWR, Reading station.[8][9]
Services
Earley station is served by
South Western Railway electric services between Reading and
London Waterloo, which run half-hourly outside peak periods and at weekends, with additional trains during weekday peak hours.
Great Western Railway trains on the
North Downs Line pass through the station without stopping.
^Her Majesty's Government (1947).
"Transport Act 1947". The Railways Archive. (originally published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office). Retrieved 25 November 2006.
Bibliography
Butt, R.V.J. (1995). The Directory of Railway Stations. Yeovil: Patrick Stephens Ltd.
ISBN1-85260-508-1. R508.
Kidner, R.W. (1982) [1974]. The Reading to Tonbridge Line. Locomotion Papers (3rd ed.). Salisbury: The Oakwood Press.
ISSN0305-5493. LP79.
Matthews, Rupert (2006). Lost Railways of Berkshire. Newbury: Countryside Books.
ISBN1-85306-990-6.
Mitchell, Vic; Smith, Keith (1989). Branch lines around Ascot (1st ed.). Midhurst: Middleton Press.
ISBN978 0 906520 64 2.