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Written by Jonathan Lewis - 13 Jul 2006
last update by Steve Revill - 14 Sep 2010
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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.
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)

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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.

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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

Googly map
Streetmap links
Tilehurst Station general view map
Tilehurst Station close up map

Windows Local Live Link - image quality may vary
Tilehurst Station



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Railway Gen Group
Wessex Rail Gen [WRGen]
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)


General views - All photographs © Jonathan Lewis unless otherwise stated
Fig 1 - Looking south west


Fig 1 - Looking south west


Fig 2 - Looking north east


Fig 2 - Looking north east


Fig 3 - Looking north west


Fig 3 - Looking north west

From the station car park

Fig 4 - Looking south east


Fig 4 - Looking south east


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