Reading–Basingstoke line

The Reading–Basingstoke line is a railway link between the South West Main Line and the Great Western Main Line, constructed by the Great Western Railway between 1846 and 1848. The line is served by GWR local services between Reading and Basingstoke, stopping at the intermediate stations of Reading West, Reading Green Park, Mortimer and Bramley. The line is also an important through route for longer distance passenger and freight services: CrossCountry services from Bournemouth and Southampton to Birmingham and the North of England and freight trains between the Port of Southampton and the Midlands use the line. South Western Railway weekend workings also operate between Reading and Salisbury.

The northern part of the line, including Reading West station, is shared with the Reading–Taunton line, which branches off to the west at Southcote Junction in the Reading suburbs. To the north of Reading West, the line joins the Great Western Main Line with curves facing both east and west. The main line here comprises two pairs of tracks, with the main lines to the south and the relief lines to the north, and a complex of grade separated junctions allows access to the relief lines (both east and westbound) and to both sides of the main lines (eastbound) without needing to cross the main line on the level. The line is double track throughout, with line speed limited to 75 miles per hour (121 km/h). There is a level crossing at Bramley railway station, with all other road crossing carried by under or over bridges.