Rail replacement buses, Paddington closed and a festive shutdown … here are the dates when Newbury’s trains will be affected by engineering works
Engineering works will see London Paddington closed next month, and over Christmas.
The shutdown is in addition to track renewal works planned for the Newbury area.
Newbury line shutdown November 11-14
In this, between Monday, November 11, and Thursday, November 14, the line between Theale and Westbury will be closed, with rail replacement buses in place. This affects all stations between Theale and Pewsey, including Thatcham, Hungerford and Midgham.
Announcing the works last month, Tom Butler, GWR station manager for the Kennet & Thames Valley area, said: “This improvement work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance, helping to ensure we can continue to provide consistent and reliable services.
“Trains will still run between Newbury and Reading or on to London Paddington, and between London and the South West by using an alternative route.
“GWR will provide rail replacement services for stations between Newbury and Bedwyn, and buses between Pewsey and Swindon for onward connections.”
He added: “It’s important that customers note these alternative travel arrangements will make their normal journey times a little longer, so please do check before you travel.”
London Paddington works November 16-17
On Saturday, November 16, GWR will be operating a reduced service for more track maintenance work, which the firm says is designed to improve punctuality and reliability of services in the Thames Valley.
Just two of the four lines will be operating between Reading and London Paddington, while the Heathrow Express will not be running to the airport.
The following day, Sunday, November 17, there will be no trains between Reading and London Paddington, while the Elizabeth Line will run between Reading and Ealing Broadway.
Some services will run to London Euston, but these will not stop at Reading and seat reservations are required for these journeys.
Basingstoke line works December 8
Works on Sunday, December 8, will affect GWR services running between Reading and Basingstoke, with replacement buses planned on this day.
More Newbury closures December 10-12
A second line closure between Newbury and Westbury will take place from Tuesday, December 10, through to Thursday, December 12.
The stations affected by this closure are Newbury, Kintbury, Hungerford, Bedwyn and Pewsey, with the line reopening at Westbury.
This also affects routes from Swindon through to Pewsey, with replacement buses operating on these two lines.
Full details of these closures are on GWR’s dedicated Wessex route webpage: www.gwr.com/Wessex
Christmas shutdowns and diversions
Services will finish early on Christmas Eve, and the network will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day to allow rail staff an opportunity to enjoy the festive period.
However, London Paddington will also stay shut over the Twixmas weekend of Friday, December 27, through to Sunday, December 29, reopening on Monday, December 30.
This includes Heathrow Express services due to leave Paddington.
Instead, services will run from Ealing Broadway to Didcot Parkway, with through services to Swindon, Bristol and Cardiff.
Trains from Reading will go to Bristol, Exeter, Plymouth, Oxford and Newbury.
Some GWR services will run to Euston, using the routes from Swansea or Plymouth. These trains will not stop at Reading, and will need a seat reservation.
The shutdown is to allow work on the construction of the HS2 line to Old Oak Common Station, as well as track maintenance and renewals. The company says doing the work at this time minimises impact on passengers.
Old Oak Common is to be a ‘super-hub’ station, and act as a temporary terminus in the capital.
It is being built on a brownfield site, and will also include 25,000 new homes.
Sam Clark, head of delivery for HS2 Ltd, said: “HS2’s Old Oak Common station will be transformational for local and regional connectivity and attract huge investment, development and regeneration to the surrounding area.”
Full details are set out on its website, www.gwr.com/christmas
The company says that passengers aiming to travel from London Paddington to the Thames Valley will be able to get Elizabeth Line trains from Ealing Broadway to Reading, and then get their onward connection.
These services will take around 30 minutes longer than normal.
And into the New Year…
There will be additional engineering work from Friday, December 27, from Westbury station.
This will continue through to Thursday, January 23.
Trains running from Reading to the South West will stop at Frome instead of Westbury.
