Anyone hoping for a Christmas getaway are being warned to plan ahead as engineering works are set to impact train services.
Work on HS2 is well under way to deliver trains to Old Oak Common, and as part of preparatory works undertaken by Network Rail for new signalling and track equipment near London Paddington, no trains will operate from the station on Sunday 24 and Wednesday 27 December.
Services are not scheduled to operate on Christmas Day or Boxing Day.
Train services to and from London Paddington will also be impacted this Sunday, November 26, as preparatory work is undertaken:
Most GWR services will start or terminate at Reading instead of London Paddington, and there will be limited train services to or from Slough until midday, and then Ealing Broadway.
Those who need to travel on December 24 or December 27 are advised to allow plenty of time to reach their destination, as journey times will be significantly longer than normal.
Customers looking to travel on either of these days should consider travelling on alternative dates for a more comfortable journey.
Dean Haynes, GWR’s station manager for London Paddington, said: “As we continue to invest in our railway, we will only be able to run trains to and from Reading and Ealing Broadway this Sunday, and on December 24 and 27.
“We have been working with other train companies to provide alternative routes, however if you can travel on the days before or after, you should consider doing so because journeys will take much longer while the work takes place.”
Joanna Grew, Network Rail’s industry programme director, said: “Over the Christmas period, we will be carrying out essential preparatory drainage and railway infrastructure works as part of the construction of HS2’s new station at Old Oak Common near London Paddington.
“As part of this preparation, we also need to close the railway into Paddington on Sunday, November 26, where we will also be completing essential railway works between Slough and Paddington which will enable a more reliable railway.
“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.”
Customers travelling to or from central London can do so using London Underground’s District or Central line services at Ealing Broadway. The Elizabeth Line will not operate.
Alternatively, GWR tickets can be used with South Western Railway between Reading and London Waterloo, or on Chiltern Railways between Oxford and London Marylebone instead.
For the latest information, visit www.GWR.com/Christmas.
