Travelling by train this Christmas?

Those hoping for an early Christmas getaway will be pleased to know that there are no major planned alterations immediately before Christmas Day, but those hoping to travel between 27 and 29 December are being warned of significant changes.  

After Christmas Eve no main line trains will run to or from London Paddington until Monday 30 December. This is to allow for work on the new HS2 station at Old Oak Common in west London, and Network Rail improvements to track, signals and overhead wires between Reading and Paddington.  

Most of Great Western Railway’s long-distance services will start from or terminate at Reading, where customers will be able to pick up connecting trains to Ealing Broadway from where London Underground services run into central London.  

Those travelling from South Wales, or from Devon and Cornwall, will however each have an hourly service diverted into London Euston instead. These trains will not stop at Reading. To help keep customers comfortable and minimise crowding, these trains will be reservation only, so make sure you book beforehand. 

GWR Operations Director Richard Rowland said: “This is a really complex operation, and we have worked hard to make sure people get to where they want to.  

"We will run an hourly service from the south-west of England – Cornwall, Devon – and an hourly service from South Wales which will go into Euston. We will then have several trains which will terminate at Reading, and people can connect there, and we will also have trains to Ealing Broadway for those making more local journeys. They will be able to connect there on to the London Underground and into London that way.  

"It is really important to us that we can keep customers moving and get them to where they need to go this Christmas. One of the reasons we chose Euston was that its most convenient for many of our customers who are making journeys beyond West London.

"We’ve worked carefully with the team at Network Rail who manage that station to make sure we've got extra staff and managers to help customers. We will be transporting a little bit of Great Western Railway to Euston to keep people moving."  

Those travelling are however warned that trains and stations over the Christmas period will be extremely busy. The earlier you can travel before Christmas, or the later you can travel after it, the more comfortable your journey will be.  

 Network Rail Western Route Director, Marcus Jones explains:   

"Our festive upgrades ensure the railway runs reliably and safely.  

"Continued investment into upgrading and improving the railway is evidence of our commitment to providing a railway fit for the 21st century.  

"We appreciate there is never a good time to disrupt journeys but whenever possible we do this at times when fewer people are travelling, such as at Christmas, on bank holidays or at weekends.   

"We thank passengers in advance for their patience and urge them to please check before they travel.”   

Peter Gow, Project Client for Old Oak Common Station at HS2 Ltd, said:

"Old Oak Common will be a super-hub of connectivity, bringing together HS2, Great Western mainline, and Heathrow Express services, as well as becoming the 42^nd stop on the Elizabeth Line.  

"The new station is a catalyst for transport-led regeneration of a previously industrial site in west London, with thousands of new homes and jobs to be created as part of the development. As we construct the new station, we are working collaboratively with our partners in the rail industry to reduce disruption to passengers.” 

Travelling in Wiltshire?

Engineering work will also affect services through Westbury. From Friday 27 December to Thursday 23 January inclusive, the railway through Westbury, as well as between Westbury and Salisbury, will be closed to enable track upgrades close to Westbury station and maintenance of the Sherrington viaduct. Trains will be diverted or replaced by buses.  

Passengers are advised to check their journeys before travelling and to plan well in advance. More information can be found at www.GWR.com/Christmas.