In article , Roland Perry
writes
Remember that Reading was never the original target for Crossrail.

It was, but they had to deny it in order to reduce the projected costs
(awaiting some tooth fairy to pay for 'extending' it to Reading).

No: they wanted to make sure that the Reading rebuild didn't get dumped
on the Crossrail budget. Once the rebuild was done and dusted and, more
to the point, paid for, suddenly Reading was the plan all along.

--
Clive D.W. Feather