Extra train services planned for the King's Coronation across the South West
Great Western Railway and South Western Railway are putting on extra services next month to cope with demand across the network
Last updated 14th Jun 2024
Great Western Railway are putting on extra services next month to cope with demand on the weekend of the King's Coronation.
GWR say 'very early' trains will be put on to get people to London Paddington on May 6.
The additional services will run to London from major stations across the South West, as well as from those in south Wales and the Thames Valley area that day.
Meanwhile, an 'enhanced service' will also be operating on the 7th and 8th of May for those heading to the Coronation Concert between Windsor and Slough.
Hundreds of thousands are expected to head to the capital for the ceremony and the concert over the bank holiday weekend.
Their transport operation isn't expected to match what happened to transport people to the capital for the late Queen's funeral, however.
Other train operators expand services
Other operators are also running extra services over the bank holiday weekend to cope with demand.
South Western Railway, which also runs services across parts of our region, will run its usual timetable on the day of the Coronation, however additional trains will be running between London Waterloo and Windsor for the concert.
Southeastern will be operating extra trains between Dartford and London Charing Cross on May 6, and running longer trains on the Maidstone East Line between London Victoria and Gillingham.
Govia Thameslink Railway (the Gatwick Express, Great Northern, Southern and Thameslink operator) will operate services as normal, but some of them will have more carriages than usual.
Not all operators will be putting on extra services, though, with much of the extra demand from passengers is expected to come from within the South East region.
Compared to the wake of the late Queen's funeral, when 250 extra train services ran across the country, this transport operation is set to be slimmed down from that public transport operation last year.
If you're planning on making the journey, currently there are no planned engineering works affecting lines getting into London.
Transport for London (TfL) is also warning services could be 'very busy' at 'key transport interchanges'.
For more information, visit the Network Rail website - or check your local train operator:
Great Western Railway's Coronation advice
South Western Railway's Coronation advice