READING has officially been put on the London Tube Map as TfL prepares to operate services to and from the capital.

From Sunday, December 15, current Great Western Railway (GWR) stopping services between London Paddington and Reading will be run by TfL Rail, in what will be the next step towards the delivery of the Elizabeth line.

Between December 15, 2019 and January 2, 2020, existing fares will apply.

RELATED: TfL trials Crossrail with trains coming to Reading

Children under 11 who are accompanied by an adult, as well as customers who are eligible for the Freedom Pass, will be able to travel for free to Reading on the TfL service.

Customers will be able to use contactless pay as you go between London Paddington and Reading from January 2.

From this date, TfL Rail fares will be aligned with the National Rail fares to Reading, which have now been confirmed as £24.40 for a peak adult pay as you go journey between Reading and London Paddington (with the off-peak fare of £10.60).

Daily and weekly capping are expected to be introduced in spring 2020.

READ MORE: Thames Valley saw highest number of drink-driving offences throughout Christmas

Pay as you go with Oyster will not be extended to services beyond West Drayton due to limitations with the system, which is now more than 15 years old.

Customers using Oyster pay as you go wishing to travel to or from stations beyond West Drayton will need to buy a paper ticket, or use contactless from January 2, 2020, covering the entire length of their journey.

READ MORE: Reading hospital hit by norovirus

During peak times, Monday to Friday (not on public holidays) between 6.30am and 9.30am, and between 4pm and 7pm, services to and from Reading will run every 15 minutes and two trains an hour will run during off-peak times.

From December 15, some train and departure times will change, so customers are advised to check before they travel.

Howard Smith, operations director for TfL Rail, said: "Running TfL Rail services to Reading is an important step towards opening the Elizabeth line and reinforces the key transport links between these two areas for local people and businesses.

"Customers will benefit from the free travel for under-11s and the convenience of pay as you go contactless fares from the New Year."

Network Rail will be undertaking some Christmas engineering work between December 24 and December 31.

There will be no service on TfL Rail between London Paddington, Slough and Heathrow Terminal 4 on Christmas Eve and Friday, December 27, with replacement buses operating.

There will also be no service on the entire line on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.