New Mobile Site
We have just launched a new mobile version of this site - m.trainspots. This page will use your smart device's GPS to loctate you and guide you to locations that are close to your present location.
Location notes
Tilehurst local station about 3 miles west of Reading on the Great Western Main Line towards Didcot.
Railway type and traffic
Tilehurst is a busy station with around 6 to 8 express passengers passing an hour (HSTs, 180s, Turbos and Voyagers) and local stopping service which is twice an hour each way from London Paddington to Oxford or Banbury.
Tilehurst is also a busy freight location with up to around 4 freights and hour, at busy times which is normally in the afternoon. Freight seen here is Freightliner trains to or from Southampton, Freightliner Ballast trains to or from the new Reading Yard about a mile east of Tilehurst station and lots of DB Schenker traffic from the South or London heading north or west and in the other direction. The Theale Murco Tanks train also runs 3 times a week which is one of the last 60 worked trains and anything else is expected to be worked by a 66.
Tilehurst is also a busy freight location with up to around 4 freights and hour, at busy times which is normally in the afternoon. Freight seen here is Freightliner trains to or from Southampton, Freightliner Ballast trains to or from the new Reading Yard about a mile east of Tilehurst station and lots of DB Schenker traffic from the South or London heading north or west and in the other direction. The Theale Murco Tanks train also runs 3 times a week which is one of the last 60 worked trains and anything else is expected to be worked by a 66.
Environment
Tilehurst station is in the residential suburbs of Reading. The station is busy in the morning and evening but is lightly used in the day time. The station is staffed up until lunch time, Mondays to Saturdays.
Road directions
Follow the signs to Tilehurst Station (note the station is about 2 miles from Tilehurst Village itself)
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Tilehurst Station map co-ordinates
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Tilehurst Station map co-ordinates
Parking
There is a car park at the station but this is expensive but there is a short stay car park which you may be able to use if you stay on the station.
Public transport
Get the half hourly service from Reading or Oxford or somewhere in-between.
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Click here to set up your location for directions to this location
Amenities
Toilets are on platform 2/3 but are only unlocked while the station is staffed. There a few small shops by the roundabout just to the east of the station.
Sun Compass
Sun Compass using Suncalc by brought to you by Vladimir Agafonkin:
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Tilehurst Station
Streetmap links
Tilehurst Station general view map
Tilehurst Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Tilehurst Station
It might be necessary to adjust the time to suit your visit, this link should open with the current day.
Tilehurst Station
Googly map
Tilehurst Station general view map
Tilehurst Station close up map
Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Tilehurst Station
Who likes this location on facebook
Railway Gen Group
Photographic notes
Photos can be taken at almost any time of day from various platforms. The best photos are taken from platform 2/3 of the slow lines from about 10am once the sun has moved round. Photos of the slow lines can be taken from either end of the platform 2/3. Most freight does come on the slow lines and so do most rail-tours but rail-tours to quite often appear on the fast line.
Update: HST coach stop boards can protrude into shots of trains from the East, depending on where you stand of course. (eg, they will impact on fig 1 and 2)
Update: HST coach stop boards can protrude into shots of trains from the East, depending on where you stand of course. (eg, they will impact on fig 1 and 2)
General views - All photographs © Jonathan Lewis unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south west
Fig 2 - Looking north east
Fig 3 - Looking north west
From the station car park
Fig 4 - Looking south east
Disclaimer
All information contained within this is site is © Trainspots. The images used on this site remain the property of the original photographer, as credited at the top of the page, and are used with their kind permission.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
The information on these pages is supplied for the benefit of railway enthusiasts who carry out a harmless hobby, and through the medium of photography and video, actually promote the railway industry. Railway enthusiasts can also act as eyes and ears against railway vandalism, and as such should surely be encouraged to do so by the supply of adequate information such as is found on this website.
This site has been created to assist railway photographers in their travels around the country. It is based on the personal knowledge and experience. No liability can be held against the web site or its contributions for incorrect information. Trainspots will endeavour to check all information and corrections will be accepted and posted accordingly.
Advice as to the locations general environment is given as a guide on each page. This information is a GUIDE only. ALWAYS be careful with your equipment, Trainspots can not be held responsible for your personal security. Avoid leaving your property on display for all to see, be aware of your surroundings at all times. There are, sadly, people who will not think twice about trying to steal your equipment.
Trainspots DOES NOT condone trespass and none of the information on this site should be taken as a right to trespass on either railway or private land. To the best of our knowledge all locations are publicly accessible areas, where they are not contact information will be given to the appropriate authority for permission to be obtained.
The content of this site is created and intended for all age ranges but the content of sites linked from this site are not subject to the same intentions. Trainspots will attempt to check links for validity but as time passes and the site grows this will not always be possible. Broken, or indeed updates to, links should be submitted to the editor for inclusion in the updates. All links external to the Trainspots site are opened in a new browser window. Trainspots has been running now for over 10 years and there are imitation sites and guides to railfotspots. But we are a free site and we continue on the path we started out on over a decade ago to provide a useful guide to UK Railway Photographic Locations.
