Local News · Swindon
Rail travel warning for Swindon passengers as London Paddington closes in November
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Swindon commuters travelling to London later this month face major disruption due to a full weekend closure of London Paddington station.
Rail passengers travelling from Swindon face significant disruption later this month as engineering works force a complete closure of London Paddington station. The closure is scheduled for the weekend of Saturday, 28 November and Sunday, 29 November, with no GWR services operating to or from the London terminus.
While the closure will affect all routes into Paddington, Great Western Railway (GWR) has confirmed that services from Swindon towards Bristol, Cardiff, Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance will continue to operate as normal. However, passengers planning to travel into the capital will need to adjust their travel plans significantly.
To assist with the disruption, GWR will run special hourly long-distance services between London Euston and Bristol Temple Meads. Passengers are advised that these specific services will not pick up or set down at intermediate stations between London Euston and Swindon, meaning stops such as Didcot Parkway and Oxford will not be served on these routes.
Those travelling into London are being strongly advised to search for services to and from London Euston rather than Paddington for the duration of the weekend. Anyone attempting to travel via alternative routes should prepare for busier conditions than usual, particularly on South Western Railway services, which may see increased demand due to international rugby fixtures at Twickenham.
The engineering work is part of a wider programme of rail improvements. Further disruption is already scheduled for the period between London Paddington and Slough from 27 December through to 3 January. Passengers are encouraged to check the GWR website and journey planners before setting off and are advised to allow extra time for their journeys to account for the necessary changes.
Source: Reading Chronicle · View original