No trains between Paddington and Reading this Sunday morning

As part of Network Rail’s performance improvement plan in the Thames Valley – named Project Brunel – there will be no trains between Paddington and Reading before 1115.

The vital Network Rail improvement works includes drainage upgrades for areas of the line that frequently flood, as well as replacing track and sleepers (which support the rails) that have come to the end of their useable life.

To allow for this work to take place no trains will be able to operate to/from London Paddington until 1115 on Sunday 24 November.

Sunday 24 November

• No direct train services to or from London Paddington until 1115.
• Replacement buses are planned between Ealing Broadway and Slough.
• After 1115, trains will run but services between London Paddington and Reading will be reduced as only two out of four tracks will be available.
• Customers are advised to check on the day of travel as crew availability will result in additional short-notice cancellations or alterations, especially between London Paddington and Bristol, and local Bristol services, and London Paddington and Devon/Cornwall. Change your plans if possible:
  • To help, customers with tickets for Sunday 24 November can use these to travel on Saturday 23 November or Monday 25 November and are encouraged to do so.

Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western Route Director, said:

“This November and December, we have a number of packages of engineering work in the Thames Valley area, which will unfortunately mean some disruption for passengers.

“Our work to improve the performance of the line in the Thames Valley is also well underway and we’ll be upgrading drainage systems and the track later in November and into early December. These upgrades are vitally important to ensure that we can continue to see positive changes.

“I’d like to thank passengers in advance for their patience. There’s never a good time to close the line, however we do try to ensure that any disruption takes place when fewer people are using the railway, such as at weekends.

“We have made good progress with our Thames Valley improvement plan, although there is more to do. These upgrades are essential to our goal of reducing disruption and improving the resilience of this stretch of line into the future.”

GWR is warning customers for Sunday to check their journey on the morning of travel to avoid being caught out by any last-minute changes.

GWR Customer Services Director Rachel Geliamassi said:

“We have been working really hard with our industry partners to keep people moving as best as we can while this vital work to improve the resilience and reliability of services takes place.

“Due to the engineering work and crew availability, trains on the Sunday will however be significantly reduced and we would urge people to travel on the day before or the day after, freeing up space for those who have to travel on the Sunday. We have altered tickets to allow people to do so.” 

On Saturday 23 November GWR services will continue to operate; however, some late-night services between Reading and London Paddington have been retimed. Elizabeth line services will continue to run.

• GWR services to operate as timetabled; some minor changes to timings of late -night trains
• Saturday night and Sunday morning passengers for Heathrow will need to use the Piccadilly line between Hammersmith and the airport.
• All day Saturday and Sunday there will be no Piccadilly line services between Hammersmith and King’s Cross St Pancras.
• The District line will be operating normally between central London and Hammersmith. Customers can use the District line to Hammersmith and cross the platform to join the Piccadilly line. No steps, lifts or escalators are required to make this interchange.

Howard Smith, Transport for London's Director of the Elizabeth line, said:

“We are supporting Network Rail’s Thames Valley Improvement Plan as these critical improvements will enhance the reliability and resilience of the railway for our customers. An amended timetable will operate on the Elizabeth line in order to facilitate these works and other planned works in the coming weeks. We encourage customers to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys and check our website or the TfL Go app before they travel.”