Berkshire passengers warned over Paddington closure
The rail company say Paddington will be closed on Christmas Eve
Last updated 19th Dec 2023
Passengers from Berkshire are being warned to travel early this Christmas due to Paddington station being closed on Christmas Eve.
Long-distance services will start and terminate at Reading instead of London Paddington.
Paddington will also be closed on Wednesday 27th December.
The closure is for HS2 engineering work to prepare for a new station at Old Oak Common - Network Rail said the work was "essential".
GWR's James Davis told us:
"Clearly we're anticipating most people will travel before Sunday instead choosing to getaway at the end of this week and on Saturday - obviously Christmas Day being on a Monday allows people that extra opportunity to getaway before Christmas Eve."
Alternative ways to get to central London and Heathrow:
Other trains will be running between Reading and Ealing Broadway, where Transport for London train services will be operating:
District/Central line services between Ealing Broadway and central London
Elizabeth line services between Ealing Broadway and Heathrow Airport
Alternatively, South Western Railway trains will be running between Reading and London Waterloo, plus Chiltern Railways trains will be running between Oxford and London Marylebone.
Train services that are running are expected to be very busy and will also finish earlier than usual on Sunday 24 December – all journeys will need to be completed by approximately 22:30.
No trains will be running on the network on either Christmas Day or Boxing Day.