To provide an original reading transport apparatus with a simple configuration which prevents the occurrence of expansion / contraction of an image and of deviation caused at transport in the process of reading thick and thin originals and is easily replaced with a book carrier or the like even when it is required to read a thick book or the like and to provide an image forming apparatus provided with the original reading transport apparatus.

An original cover 19 for forming a guide 18 in an upper face side of an original transport path and provided with follower rolls 14, 15 freely movably in a direction close to / apart from a direction of an original transport roller is characterized in that an opening / closing fulcrum shaft 20 of the original cover 19 is received in a long hole 45 or a U groove 13 of a side plate for supporting a side face of a reading section side, a slide means 29 provided with a first slope in crossing with and tilted to the long hole 45 or U groove 13 of the side plate to support the fulcrum shaft 20 of the original cover 19 is made adjacent to the side plate face and the fulcrum shaft 20 of the original cover 19 is vertically elevated / descended by operating the slide means 29.