GWR announces train timetable shake-up for Thames Valley

A train operator has announced its biggest timetable shake-up in almost five years which will see services retimed and replaced in the Thames Valley area.

The changes to Great Western Railway (GWR) timetables come as the level of service on the Elizabeth line reaches the maximum planned level, with up to 10 trains an hour east of Heathrow Airport Junction travelling into London from Monday, May 22.

Those travelling from Marlow, Henley and Windsor branch lines will see services retimed to align with mainline services.

In the London and Thames Valley area, the London Paddington to Didcot Parkway Class 387 (electric trains) will run non-stop on the mainline from Slough to Paddington.

Services on the mainlines will be retimed, and various minor changes will occur to re-cast services around the revised Paddington to Didcot service.

The 6.34am Didcot to Paddington, 8.31am Reading to Paddington, 4.56pm Paddington to Maidenhead and 5.57pm Paddington to Reading services will be replaced by Elizabeth line services.

The London Paddington to Oxford services will now call at Didcot Parkway.

The London Paddington to North Cotswolds services will no longer call at Slough at off-peak times.

Maidenhead MP Theresa May said: “As the MP for Maidenhead, I remain committed to ensuring my constituents are served by top quality, reliable rail services.

“I welcome the announcement that from May 2023 local people will benefit from faster and more frequent off-peak services to London. I am also pleased to see services on the Marlow and Henley branch lines linking in with the mainline services giving better connections for travellers.

“As your MP I will continue to work for investment in Maidenhead’s railways. These faster off-peak trains will improve our rail services. Taken together with the increased frequency of trains they will generate significant economic benefits for our local area.”

Class 387 electric local stopping services from Didcot Parkway to London Paddington will run non-stop from Slough, saving as much as 10 minutes on passengers’ journey times.

Off-peak services between London Paddington and the North Cotswolds will also be up to five minutes quicker, with trains now running non-stop between Reading and London Paddington.

Mark Hopwood, GWR managing director, said: “With this new timetable we can now speed up some journey times, realising some long-held aspirations of ours and our customers.

“Those using our branch lines will also benefit from better connectivity with the timetable working more harmoniously with Elizabeth line services.

“This new timetable delivers more train services, serving even more stations, and providing greater value for money for taxpayers.”

Details of the changes to the services are available in the online journey planners and through GWR’s Journey Check service at: https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/check-your-journey 

Those who catch a specific train should check their journey in advance.