The Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group have published the following information about upcoming disruptions on the Bedwyn to Paddington route starting tomorrow Nov 11:
Forthcoming Engineering Works
Monday 11th to Thursday 14th November
There will be a full line closure between Theale and Bedwyn. Bus replacements will operate. Please see the journey planners. GWR, at our request, has timetabled some of the bus replacements to not call at Newbury Racecourse, Midgham and Aldermaston. This is to speed up the journey. GWR has agreed that monthly or longer season ticket holders can use Swindon or Didcot. At our request South West Trains have agreed to accept tickets from/to stations Basingstoke – Grateley, via Woking to London, or via Basingstoke towards Paddington. Unfortunately, you’ll have to pay for your parking. Overton and Whitchurch have limited parking. Refunds can be claimed on season tickets for anyone not travelling subject to the usual terms and conditions (and where applicable, admin fees). Refunds are not available by way of compensation during these works, as GWR put mitigations in place (ticket acceptance from other stations, replacement buses etc). The 0725 bus from Bedwyn (0740 Hungerford) and the 0735 bus from Kintbury are the first off-Peak services during the work.
Friday 15th November
The 0532 Bedwyn (0538 Hungerford and 0543 Kintbury) to London Paddington will not run.
Saturday 16th November
Train services to and from London Paddington will run to an amended timetable. Some trains will not run and some services will not run for all of their normal journey. Many services will also depart earlier than usual. Please check your train times before you travel if your train is due to run to/from London Paddington.
Sunday 17th November
All lines between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington will be closed. If you wish to travel to Paddington, catch an Elizabeth Line service at Reading then change onto the Underground at Ealing Broadway.
Tuesday 19th to Thursday 21st November
The 0532 Bedwyn (0538 Hungerford and 0543 Kintbury) to London Paddington will not run.
Saturday 23rd November
0508 Reading to Bedwyn will be replaced with an earlier bus from Reading as far as Newbury. 0539 Reading to Bedwyn will depart at 0555 and will run non-stop to Newbury then Kintbury, Hungerford and Bedwyn. For stations between Reading and Newbury please use alternative services. 0608 Bedwyn to Reading will start from Newbury. A bus will run from Bedwyn at 0530 to connect with the train at Newbury. 0635 Bedwyn to Newbury and 0658 Newbury to London Paddington will depart slightly later than usual train times.
Sunday 24th November
The 2323 Newbury to Reading will be replaced with a bus service
Travelling off-peak after 0830
On weekdays, The 0846 from Bedwyn is the first off-peak. However, the ticket machine at Bedwyn isn’t selling off-peak tickets prior to 0846. We’ve reported this to GWR.
Using WhatsApp to Get a Connection Held at Newbury
In our newsletter of October 14th we reported that a passenger used WhatsApp to ask for a connection hold at Newbury. The WhatsApp team contacted GWR Control and got the connection held. GWR’s WhatsApp number is: 07890 608043. Thanks to those of you who have reported similar success. So keep using it! The WhatsApp team is open until 2300 each evening.
Getting around the Evening off-peak from June
We’ve described this tip in previous newsletter. However, as it is proving so useful, and people continuously join our email list, we’ll describe it again.
To recap, the weekday evening peak, for trains departing Paddington, is from 1600 to 1900. This does not apply between Reading and Bedwyn, nor does it apply on the Elizabeth Line between Paddington and Reading. Therefore, if you are returning with an off-peak ticket between 1600 and 1900 there are options, it’ll just be a longer journey. Here are some updated examples:
1. Catch the 1548 Swansea train from Paddington, arriving Reading at 1613. You can then catch the 1636 Reading to Newbury, arriving 1700. You can then catch the 1724 for Bedwyn, arriving 1744.
2. Catch the 1648 Elizabeth Line train from Paddington, arriving Reading at 1741. You can then catch the 1803 Reading to Newbury, arriving 1817. You can then catch the 1822 for Bedwyn, arriving 1842.
3. Catch the 1720 Elizabeth Line train from Paddington, arriving Reading at 1812. You can then catch the 1837 Reading to Bedwyn, arriving 1914.
4. Catch the 1750 Elizabeth Line train from Paddington, arriving Reading at 1842. You can then catch the 1901 Reading to Bedwyn, arriving 1930.
The Parade – one-way proposal and parking – letter from Ian Mellor
