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Newsletter 325: 24/04/2026

Hello All,

Please find some updates below.

Meeting at Westminster

On March 24th Bill Wells and I attended an MP drop in session, hosted by GWR. We were able to talk to the DfT and GWR senior management and raise our concerns. Here follows a brief summary:

Mark Hopwood, MD of GWR, was very positive regarding returning our direct Paddington services. Though there is no timescale. We raised the long-term aspiration of a Network Rail proposal for an hourly Paddington to Westbury service. Mark said a business case for this is being developed. We further raised that at a Local Transport Forum (London and Thames Valley) held in March, it was mentioned that, from early to mid next decade, new battery/electric trains are proposed for operation between Paddington to Bedwyn. Mark said that the battery range isn’t quite there yet for the Newbury to Westbury stretch. We asked for this to be borne in mind – we don’t want to be excluded from a Westbury extension based on the wrong rolling stock being purchased.
We spoke at length with Martin Pearce, GWR’s contact at the DfT. He was very receptive to the problems that the shuttles caused and is supportive of the restoration of our direct Paddington services. He asked us to send him a summary of the problems with the Bedwyn/Newbury shuttles. He subsequently sent us a kind reply acknowledging the issues.
We were able to also speak with Zach Bailey, responsible for station development, about getting the ‘nose first’ parking extended at Bedywn Station. We have since put him in contact with our Parish Council.
We raised a number of outstanding queries and received answers on the following: (I) If our line is blocked, can you use Didcot or Swindon? - When there is a planned maintenance closure, measures are put in place. For unscheduled events it is down to Control to make the decision. From past experience such decisions are slow in coming and often not communicated effectively to passengers. We further asked what the situation would be if one took the decision to just drive to Didcot or Swindon and present oneself at the barrier. GWR responded that you'd likely be allowed through, but there is no guarantee. If you did find yourself in this situation, and you had to pay for an additional ticket, we'd take up your case with GWR management and request a refund. (ii) There are inconsistencies between the walk-on fares available online and those available at the ticket machines (TVMs) e.g. one can buy online an off-peak day return between Bedwyn and Luton for the 0846 Bedwyn departure. However, even after 0830, the ticket machine at Bedwyn does not offer this option. GWR informed us that there is a plan to align TVMs in mid-2026 with what is available online.

North Wessex Downs Landscape Trust

On March 26th we attended a meeting with the Parish Council, Bedwyn Footpaths Group and North Wessex Downs Landscape Trust. This was in relation to station signage to welcome people to the north West Downs, providing them with information on the whole of the Downs as well as information on the local area.

Further information on the work of the trust can be found at https://www.nwdlt.org.uk/

Train Timetabling to fit in with St Barts School

In our last newsletter we reported that we submitted a request for the 1522 and 1618 Newbury shuttle departures to be re-timed to fit in with the St Barts school day. These revisions are now showing in the May timetable (1527 and 1623 respectively).

Engineering Works

Saturday 25 April to Friday 1 May 2026

Monday to Thursday from approximately 2145 until end of service each day - Buses will replace trains between Newbury and Bedwyn. The 2230 London Paddington to Bedwyn will start from Reading (and finish its journey at Newbury). An alternative rail connection will be available from London Paddington to Reading.

Tuesday to Friday - The 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will be slightly retimed and will finish its journey at Reading. An alternative rail connection will be available from Reading to London Paddington.

Saturday 2 to Friday 8 May 2026

Nothing affecting our services

Saturday 9 to Friday 15 May 2026

Sunday - All day, trains between London Paddington / Reading and the West of England will be reduced in frequency, and will be diverted, either between Reading and Westbury, or between Reading and Taunton. No trains will call at Newbury, Hungerford or Pewsey. Some trains will call additionally at Swindon and there will be changes to trains calling at Westbury and Castle Cary. Most trains FROM London Paddington and Reading will depart EARLIER than usual. Replacement buses will run between Reading and Newbury and between Pewsey and Swindon (connecting with diverted trains calling additionally at Swindon). A revised train service will run between Newbury and Bedwyn. Some trains will not run at all, including all trains between London Paddington and Paignton. Passengers are strongly advised to check their journeys before travelling.

Monday to Thursday from approximately 2145 until end of service each day - Buses will replace trains between Reading, Newbury and Bedwyn.

Saturday 16 to Friday 22 May 2026

Sunday - The 0806 Reading to Newbury will not run and the 0833 Reading to Bedwyn will start from Newbury and run slightly later than usual. A replacement bus will run EARLIER from Reading at 0751 to Newbury. The 0804 (departing 0759) London Paddington to Penzance will be diverted after Reading and will no longer call at Newbury or Pewsey. The 0844 (departing 0833) London Paddington to Penzance will call additionally at Newbury and Pewsey.

Monday to Thursday - The 2230 London Paddington to Bedwyn will start from Reading and will be slightly retimed. An alternative rail connection will be available from London Paddington to Reading.

Saturday 23 to Friday 29 May 2026

Monday to Friday - The 0703, 0805, 0906, 1305 & 1406 London Paddington to Newbury will all run slightly later than usual.

Saturday 30 May to Friday 5 June 2026

Saturday until approximately 0700 - Buses will replace trains between Reading, Newbury and Bedwyn.

Sunday - The 2323 Newbury to Reading will not run and will be replaced by a bus.

Monday to Thursday - The 2230 London Paddington to Bedwyn will start from Reading and will be slightly retimed. An alternative rail connection will be available from London Paddington to Reading.

Monday to Friday - The 0703, 0805, 0906, 1305 & 1406 London Paddington to Newbury will all run slightly later than usual.

Best wishes

Steve Smith

Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group