All three of our campuses can be accessed by train, followed by a short bus journey or walk. Travelling by train can be a cheaper, more sustainable and less stressful option than the use of single occupancy vehicles. To help make rail travel as easy as possible for staff, students and visitors, we have collected all information about how to reach us by train, our latest rail offers and all other related news on this page.
The University is a part of the easitNETWORK, which allows staff to become easitCARD holders and enjoy savings on a number of different travel options including rail fares. It is free to register and costs just £5.35 to become an easitCARD holder, required to receive discount on train tickets. Membership is then valid for 1 year and 3 weeks from the date of order.
With a valid easitCARD, members of easitREADING qualify for 15% discount on SWR and discounted Rail Season Tickets. This applies to journeys going to (and returning from):
- Reading
- Bracknell
- Wokingham
- Winnersh Triangle
- Basingstoke
- Winchester
- Farnborough
- Andover
- Portsmouth & Southsea Central
- Portsmouth Harbour
- Hilsea
- Fratton
- Cosham
To sign up and start saving, visit the easitReading page.
Please allow 2-3 working weeks for your card to arrive after registering. For further T&Cs and information, visit the easit FAQ page.
Plus Bus
Buy a PlusBus ticket with your rail ticket, and you can add unlimited bus travel around Reading. This link takes you to information specific to Reading, but remember that PlusBus discounts could also be available for buses to the station wherever you live. The PlusBus offer can also be used in conjunction with a Railcard.
The University offers a season ticket loan scheme for staff to help improve the affordability of Public Transport and to support our Carbon Reduction and Travel Plan targets.
How it works
The University can offer an interest free loan to support staff with the purchase of an annual rail season ticket, to a maximum value of £7500. This loan is then paid back in 10 monthly instalments from your net salary (pay after tax and National Insurance).
The ticket is valid between 2 chosen stations and can be used anytime, including weekends. It can also be used in conjunction with an easit membership card to get a 15% discount, providing your chosen journey is on Southern Rail or South West Railway and involves travel to/from Reading Station.
For full information, eligibility criteria and direction on how to apply, visit the HR benefits page.
Everyone aged between 16-25 in the UK, or are over 25 and in full-time study, is eligible for a 16-25 Railcard which gives a 33% discount on all rail travel. The card costs £30 for a year, but it is well worth it if you’re going to travel by train more than twice! For more information and applications, visit their website.
We have partnered with GWR to offer a 20% discount for anyone attending one of our:
- University Open Days
- Offer Holder Days
- Graduation days
- other specific events
If you are visiting us for one of the above dates then you will receive information on how to take advantage of this offer within the general information emails from the University/relative department, along with all other information from the day. It can also be combined with a Young Persons Railcard for even more of a discount and if you are travelling as part of a group of 10 or more then you could be eligible for group fares.
Please note: the 20% discount is only available on GWR advance single fare tickets on selected routes and you must select Reading station as the destination. If the route you have chosen is eligible and advance single fare tickets remain available, the discounted ticket price will be shown.
Reading station is one of the busiest rail hubs in the UK. It enables access to London within 25 mins on the Paddington line and is now a part of the newly launched Elizabeth Line which connects Reading to the London Underground network. The station provides direct routes throughout the South of England, as well as transfer routes to the Midlands and beyond. Use your online rail journey provider to search routes and tickets to Reading station.
Earley station is a smaller facility located in Earley, east Reading. It is on the Reading-Waterloo line and provides access to stations in east Berkshire and Greater London.
Travelling to: Whiteknights campus
The two nearest train stations to our Whiteknights campus are Reading station and Earley station - find out how best to reach us from these stations below.
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- Walking from Reading Station to Whiteknights campus - The walk is approximately 1.6 miles. On average, this is around 35-40 minutes on foot to the edge of campus. Follow the link and scroll down to the Whiteknights campus from Reading station section for directions.
- Travelling by bus from Reading station to Whiteknight campus - There are several bus routes between these destinations, including Route 21/21a which has a service every 8 minutes. Follow the link and scroll down to the Bus routes: Whiteknights & London Road section for all routes and more information.
- Walking from Earley station to the Whiteknight campus - The walk is approximately 0.8 miles, taking around 15 minutes by foot. Follow the link and scroll down to the Earley Gate entrance from Earley station section for directions.
- Travelling by bus from Earley station to the Whiteknight campus - Route 4 goes between Earley station and the Three Tuns pub stop, only a 2 minute walk from the Earley Gate entrance. Follow the link and scroll down to the Bus routes: Whiteknights & London Road section for all routes and more information.
Travelling to: London Road campus
The nearest train stations to our London Road campus is Reading station.
- Walking from Reading Station to London Road campus - The walk is approximately 0.7 miles. On average, this is around 15-20 minutes on foot to the edge of campus. Follow the link and scroll down to the London Road campus from Reading station section for directions.
- Travelling by bus from Reading station to London Road campus - There are several bus routes from the station to the Royal Berkshire Hospital, which is just a 2 minute walk from the London Road campus. Follow the link and scroll down to the Bus routes: Whiteknights & London Road section for all routes and more information.
The nearest train station to our Greenlands campus is Henley-on-Thames station. It is a small station in the centre of Henley-on-Thames. It primarily operates between Henley and Twyford, connecting simply with Reading and Paddington via transfer. The service is operated by Great Western Railway - visit their website for train times and ticket information.
Travelling to the Greenlands campus from Henley station is best done by bus, as the distance is largely along rural roads with no pavement access. Once at the station, you can walk a short distance into Henley town centre and catch the 800 or 850 bus to the Greenlands campus. Visit our bus page for more details and scroll down to the Bus routes: Greenlands campus section for more information.