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.

A new company, the Berks and Hants Railway had the idea of building the link between Basingstoke and Reading.

In 1854 the Great Western was ordered to convert the railway to standard gauge between Reading and Basingstoke by 7 February 1856, or face a fine of £200 each day.

[7] This became less of an issue when diesel multiple unit trains were introduced, which could easily reverse at Reading General.

Construction of Reading Green Park railway station was expected to be completed in 2010 but by 2011 work had not started and the plans were suspended.

[14] A further train in each direction every hour, half-hourly at times, is operated by CrossCountry but this does not call at stations between Reading and Basingstoke.

[18] However doubts have been cast on the capacity of the line to support a further station after the opening of Green Park.