Hints & Tips

Hints and Tips

If your journey is delayed you may be entitled to compensation. Use the Refunds menu for details of how to claim.
Connections at Reading and Newbury are prone to being missed. When travelling home, consider getting an earlier train from Paddington or Reading to be able to make the connection.
GWR's WhatsApp team can contact GWR Control and request a connection at Newbury be held. GWR's WhatsApp number is: 07890 608043. They are open until 2300 each evening. So, please use this if you are on a delayed train heading towards Newbury.
If you are intending to take a direct train from Paddington, and you arrive at Paddington with an open ticket, and early enough to get a quicker train to Reading, then do catch it. Even if you then have to change back on to your originally intended train at Reading, it's always worth taking every opportunity to keep moving down the line.
Eastbound trains from Bedwyn never depart from Platform 1 (the canal side of the station). However, the PA sometimes announces a platform alteration stating this. It's a bug in the system. It is impossible for trains to depart east from Platform 1, there's no signaling to allow for it.
Train associations sometimes do not work at Bedwyn. Even when the inbound train and the outbound train are the same unit, a delay to the inbound train may not show as a delay the outbound train. Thus, when stood on Platform 2 and the board says "On Time" look across to the board on Platform 1 to see if the inbound train is delayed.
On the IET trains the step up can make it difficult to board . This is especially true if you have mobility issues or a child's buggy. Please therefore note that the step up in to the end carriages, forming the drivers cabs, are lower. This makes it easier.
Bedwyn is a penalty fare station so you need to buy a ticket before boarding. However, the ticket machine does not take cash so, in this instance, buy a ticket at the earliest opportunity. Also the ticket machine doesn't offer off-peak tickets until after 0830. So if your train leaves after 0830 don't buy a ticket until 0830. Depending on the timetable, this may not give you sufficient time to purchase a ticket. In this case purchase a ticket at the earliest opportunity and explain to the ticket seller what happened.
Seat Reservation Guarantee Claim: If you cannot occupy your reserved seat you may be able to claim up to a 50% refund. Please see: https://www.railhelp.co.uk/gwr/make-a-complaint/on-train/seating-capacity
If you travel regularly (e.g., for work) and know up to three months in advance the services you will use, then look at the advanced purchase options. A single peak ticket, from Bedwyn to Paddington, can be purchased for as little as £17.50. However, you do need to plan ahead. The closer you book to the date of travel, the higher the price will be.
If using an off-peak ticket during the week please ensure that you are on an off-peak service. From Bedwyn or Paddington this is after 0830. From Paddington off-peak ends at 1600 then starts again at 1900. Note that Elizabeth line services, between Paddington and Reading, are off-peak all day. So, during the evening peak, you can use the Elizabeth Line with an off-peak ticket from Paddington to Reading and then catch anything, including West Country bound trains originating from Paddington, on to Newbury, Kintbury, Hungerford and Bedwyn. You can also get the 1636 (from Paddington) at the off-peak price if you book it in advance. Saturday, Sundays and Bank Holidays are off-peak all day. Some examples of weekday off-peak travel, during the evening peak, are: 1) Catch the 1548 Carmarthen 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.
If you claim Delay/Repay via Trainline you will be charged a fee – up to £10. However, you can claim directly off GWR and avoid this fee.
Discounts are available to holders of Railcards. On weekdays the 16-25 Railcard, Senior Railcard, Network Railcard and Disabled Persons Railcards are all valid after 0830. At weekends railcards are valid all day. Note that the ticket machine at the station does not always offer railcard discounts directly after 0830 on a weekday. If this happens to you then buy a ticket at the earliest opportunity from a ticket seller.
Don't forget if you are intending travelling on the underground you can buy a One Day Travelcard to include the tube.
Shopping tips: Newbury and Reading, both having direct trains from Bedwyn, offer good shopping centres. Reading has the modern Oracle shopping centre. To get to The Oracle exit the station through the main entrance turn left, and follow the road straight ahead (Station Road leading into Queen Victoria Street). You will meet with Broad Street (opposite John Lewis). Turn left and The Oracle is on the right hand side, opposite.
Change at Westbury for Bath Spa, Bristol Temple Meads, Portsmouth, Southampton and Cardiff. Also, where the service is not direct, change at Westbury for Frome, Castle Cary, Taunton, Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St Davids.
Heathrow Airport: Take the train from Bedwyn station and pick up the RailAir coach service at Reading. To reach the coach departure point head through the main ticket barrier then take a diagonal left to the far side of the station concourse. Through tickets can be purchased on the train from Bedwyn. Typically coaches depart every twenty minutes to thirty minutes and ties in well with our train timetable. See www.railair.com or phone 0118 957 9425 for further details.
Gatwick Airport: Gatwick Airport is better served by trains than Heathrow with direct services from Reading. Simply board at Bedwyn and buy a through ticket then change at Reading.
Bristol International Airport: Travel to Bristol Temple Meads and then take the Bristol Flyer direct coach service. If your flight times permit you may be able to make use of our limited westbound service. If not then change at Reading. For further details on the coach call 0871 200 2233.
Exeter International Airport: An hourly Stagecoach bus, service 56, departs Exeter St David’s station for the airport. For further details on the bus call 0871 200 2233. We have a number of direct and connecting services to Exeter.
Birmingham International Airport: Birmingham International Airport is served by direct trains from Reading.