As Network Rail continues work on the Elizabeth line over the upcoming Bank Holiday weekend GWR is asking passengers to plan their journeys in advance.
From Saturday 5 to Monday 7 May, Network Rail will carry out upgrade work between Maidenhead, and Hayes & Harlington, with the work extending from Hayes & Harlington to London Paddington on Sunday 6 May.
Travelling on Saturday 5 or Monday 7 May?
- Buses will replace trains between Maidenhead and Hayes & Harlington
- Long-distance services will be diverted around the affected area into London Paddington, adding up to an hour to journey times from Bristol/South Wales, and an hour and a half from Devon/Cornwall
- Services between Cheltenham Spa and London Paddington will start terminate at Swindon
- Suburban stopping services that would normally operate into London Paddington will terminate at Maidenhead
- Services from London Paddington to Hayes & Harlington and Heathrow Airport will continue to run
- Tickets will be accepted on South Western Railway services from Reading and Windsor & Eton Riverside, as well as on Chiltern Railways services from Oxford
Travelling on Sunday 6 May?
- Buses will replace trains between Maidenhead and Ealing Broadway with no GWR or Heathrow services into London Paddington
- Long-distance services will be diverted to London Marylebone adding up to an hour to journey times from Bristol/South Wales and 90 minutes from Devon/Cornwall
- Services between Cheltenham Spa and London Paddington will start/terminate at Swindon
- Tickets will be accepted on South Western Railway services from Reading and Windsor & Eton Riverside, as well as on Chiltern Railways services from Oxford
GWR Operations Director Rob Mullen said:
“This work will ultimately enable our customers to switch trains at London Paddington for fast, Elizabeth line services to the heart of the city.
“With the introduction of our new Intercity Express Trains providing quicker journeys from early next year, and with the start of Elizabeth line services from December, these improvements will bring Cardiff and Bristol even closer to the City, saving more than 30 minutes on total journey time.”
Network Rail Crossrail Programme Director Ben Wheeldon said:
“The upgrade over the bank holiday weekend forms a vital part of the Crossrail programme which will, once complete, transform rail travel from the west into London.
“The scale of the work is huge and we are completing it in as short a time as possible, to minimise the impact for passengers.
“We thank everyone affected by the upgrade work for their patience and advise anyone travelling to or near the station to check before they travel.”
More information is available at GWR.com/Slough2018.