If you are considering travelling by train this Christmas, Network Rail will be carrying out improvement work in the London Paddington and Cardiff areas over the Christmas period to allow for electrification and Crossrail works. This will mean trains will be very busy on Friday 23 December, and Network Rail are recommending customers to book ahead and travel early if they can.
Trains will start and finish at Ealing Broadway throughout the closure with customers completing their journey by London Underground. There are no lifts at the station. We are therefore strongly recommending that customers who will find using Ealing Broadway difficult, to change trains at Reading and travel to and from London Waterloo. South West Trains have agreed to accept GWR tickets to support this.
Full details are on the GWR website on a dedicated page https://www.gwr.com/travel-updates/christmas-travel including details on travelling with bikes, the sleeper service and the Pullman dining service.
From 24 to 29 December, trains will start and end at Ealing Broadway, where you can change on to the London Underground. As there is no step-free access, GWR tickets will also be valid via the following London stations:
All you need to do is select London Paddington as your normal destination, then enter the best alternative London terminal for you in the ‘Via/Avoid’ box. Plan your journey
If you’re planning to use the Tube, Overground, TfL Rail, Docklands Light Railway or the Tram you should also visit TfL’s Festive travel page.
Heathrow Connect services will not be operating from 24 December to 29 December.
Tickets bought for ‘Heathrow Rail’ will be valid on the RailAir coach link from Reading.