Reading train station, in the early twentieth century and today.

The building on the right is the 1990s extension to the station, while the sloping building on the left is the recently completed refurbishment, opened by the Queen last year. The old station building is now a pub.

Train stations are often formative of a person’s opinion of a town or city. Birmingham has long (unfairly) languished under the dingy shadow of New Street Station, while Manchester’s Victorian railway buildings reflect the 19th century prosperity and continuing optimism of the city.

Reading has quite a fitting station. The Victorian core reflects its 19th century boom and bust (ish), the 1997 extension its undeserved reputation as an uninspired identikit town, and its new refurbishment embodies Reading’s increasingly strong economy, cultural scene and positive future.