GWR - December timetable and Christmas services
- Hurst PC
- 28 minutes ago
- 2 min read
I am writing to update you on GWR’s forthcoming winter timetable, which comes into effect on Sunday 14 December and to advise that, over the Christmas period, we are asking customers to plan ahead and book early to secure the best Christmas fares.
To better align services with changing demand and to support improved performance, a number of amendments have been made across the network. As part of the timetable change, we are retiring our remaining Castle Class sets, which are now approaching 50 years old, with the last planned services expected to run on Saturday 13 December. These trains currently operate on local routes between Plymouth and Penzance. They will be replaced by GWR’s existing fleet, along with its recommissioned Class 175s, as the fleet is rolled out throughout 2026.
Customers are encouraged to check their journey plans ahead of the timetable change and to reserve seats for the busy Christmas period. Journey planners have been updated with Christmas and New Year information, and Advance fares are now available at GWR.com.
As is usual, engineering works will also take place over Christmas and New Year when passenger numbers are lower. While the overall impact this year is expected to be reduced, the following works will affect some services:
London bound services - Saturday 27 December – Sunday 4 January
Track renewal work will affect some train services to/from London Paddington.
Trains will run to an amended timetable because only two out of four tracks will be available.
As a result, no direct train services will run between London Paddington and Cheltenham Spa - customers should change at Swindon or Bristol Parkway instead.
Maidenhead area - Sunday 4 January
Until around 11am, there will be no train services operating between Hayes & Harlington and Maidenhead.
Most GWR trains for London Paddington will start or terminate at Reading.
South Western Railway will be operating trains between London Waterloo and Reading, plus Chiltern Railways will operate trains between London Marylebone and Oxford.
Some GWR and Elizabeth Line trains will still operate between Reading and Maidenhead.
Elizabeth Line services will also be operating between Hayes & Harlington and London Paddington.
Buses replace trains between Maidenhead, Slough and Hayes & Harlington.
Train services between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central will be unaffected as will Heathrow Express services.
Swindon area works – January
Track renewals and essential maintenance work will affect train services via Swindon on Friday 2 and Saturday 3 January, plus other weekends in January.
For more information on these engineering works then please visit gwr.com/upgrade and we would welcome any support you can provide cascading this to your networks.
Finally, thank you for your commitment and collaboration throughout the year. We greatly appreciate your support in cascading information to your networks and in providing local insights that help us deliver the best possible services to our communities.
As ever, please do not hesitate to get in touch should you have any questions.
Best wishes,
Olivia & Ahmed
Olivia Barlow | Deputy Head of Public Affairs | Great Western Railway E: olivia.barlow@GWR.com
Ahmed Nawaz | Senior Public Affairs Manager | Network Rail
