GWR welcomes early Bakerloo Line reopening at Paddington

London Underground’s Bakerloo Line services are once again stopping at Paddington Station, two weeks ahead of schedule, following improvement works.

The major improvement work began on Saturday 2 April in order to boost capacity at the station, renew the escalators, and construct a new passenger tunnel in preparation for the arrival of Crossrail.

Transport for London had hoped to complete the work by mid-August, however it has reopened this morning, two weeks earlier than scheduled.

Congratulating TfL, GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood:

“With a significant number of our customers relying on the Bakerloo Line to complete their journeys with us, I am delighted that this work has been completed in just 17 weeks, and ahead of schedule.

“London Paddington is already one of the biggest stations in the country, and with the modernisation of the Great Western, and the opening of the Elizabeth Line in late 2018, the station is undergoing its most significant transformation since opening in 1853.”

With Network Rail presently conducting flood prevention work at Hinksey, closing the railway between Oxford and Didcot from Saturday 30 July to Sunday 14 August, the reopening of the Bakerloo Line improves the journey for customers coming from the Oxford area – with Oxford Station to Oxford Circus taking a little over 1hr 50 mins.

For the fastest journey times, check National Rail Enquiries and print your own timetable. 

While Bakerloo Line trains did not stop at Paddington Station, passengers had been able to continue to use Circle, District, and Hammersmith and City Line services.