We send out newsletters via email. If you want to join our email list then please email us, using the email address on the Home page. To protect your privacy, we always email our newsletters using blind copy. To see all our newsletters, dating back to 2006 please see the 'All Newsletters' menu item.
Newsletter 324: 10/03/2026
Hello All,
Please find some updates below.
Response from Mark Hopwood MD of GWR
We’ve had a response from Mark Hopwood, MD of GWR, regarding reinstating our off-peak direct services with Paddington. Mark says:
We remain committed to restoring the direct off-peak services for Hungerford, Kintbury and Bedwyn. We are in the process of introducing Class 175 trains to our fleet in Devon & Cornwall, which over time will free up capacity including a limited number of Intercity Express Trains to be used elsewhere on our network, including in future for off-peak direct services from London-Bedwyn. IETs will continue to be used on the regional routes they currently operate, including Cardiff-Exeter and Bristol-Worcester. The Class 175s are taking longer than anticipated to bring into passenger service following two years in cold storage, so as a result I cannot for now confirm the timescale for when the direct off-peak services will return to the timetable.
I should say too that because of the financial challenge which still exists in the industry – with all cost and revenue risk (including ticket receipts) being returned to Government – any changes to our timetable must be agreed with the DfT through its business planning process and considered alongside other revenue generating schemes. This will continue once GWR enters public ownership later this year. As you would expect, there are other schemes we are working on alongside additional Bedwyn services, including Mid-Cornwall Metro, MetroWest in the greater Bristol area, and the potential to connect Bristol and Oxford with direct services. These schemes are all either third-party funded or have demonstrated significant economic benefit. It may therefore be that progress will be made with these initiatives before we are in the position to restore the direct off-peak services for Kintbury, Hungerford and Bedwyn, but I do not want you to be under the impression that this something we do not wish to do and it is a key objective for the business to ensure we make the case and get agreement to do this.
Meeting with TransWilts
On January 26th, Bill Wells and I had a productive meeting with TransWilts. This was a twofold meeting, one to discuss the eventual extension of our services to Westbury, including a new station for Devizes, and two to discuss the reinstatement of our direct off-peak services to Paddington.
We are mutually supportive on all counts and TransWilts proposed setting up a committee, chaired by the local MPs to push further for the reinstatement of our direct Paddington services.
Parking at Bedwyn Station
We’ve had a productive meeting with the Parish Council and they are considering a scheme to request additional ‘nose first’ parking, a lay-by and adjustment to white-lining. If this were to go ahead we’d increase the parking by 12 to 15 spaces.
In the meantime, please always park legally, avoiding junctions, white lines and driveways.
Advanced Warning: Line Closure - Saturday June 6th
The line between Reading and Westbury will be closed on Saturday 6th June. Replacement buses will be in operation.
Please also see the ‘Engineering Works’ section, below.
Train Timetabling to fit in with St Barts School
The end of the normal school day at St Barts, Newbury is 1510. After school clubs finish at 1610. These timings are twenty minutes earlier on a Friday.
Given the trains back to Kintbury, Hungerford and Bedwyn are 1522 and 1618 respectively, we’ve been advised are struggling to make these trains.
We’ve submitted a proposal to GWR to re-time these trains to 1527 and 1625.
Train timings are always a balancing act. Our shuttle has to fit around through services, platform contention at Newbury and freight trains. Added to that we have to be mindful of the connection times, with trains to and from London.
Changes to National Rail Conditions of Travel
On April 1st the government is changing the National Rail Conditions of Travel. Off-Peak and Anytime tickets become non-refundable after 23:59 on the day before you travel.
Engineering Works
Wednesday 11 to Friday 13 March 2026
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 14 to Friday 20 March 2026
Sunday - The 0804 (departing 0753) London Paddington to Penzance will be diverted and will not call at Newbury and Pewsey. The 0844 (departing 0831) London Paddington to Penzance will call additionally at Newbury and Pewsey.
Sunday - Due to engineering work taking place between Newton Abbot and Paignton, The 1103 & 1303 London Paddington to Plymouth will both depart EARLIER from London Paddington and Reading, and will call additionally at Newbury, Hungerford, Peswey, Westbury and Castle Cary. The 1218 & 1418 Penzance to London Paddington will call additionally at Castle Cary, Westbury, Pewsey, Hungerford and Newbury and will arrive later at Reading and London Paddington.
The 1036 & 1236 London Paddington to Paignton and the 1453 & 1654 Paignton to London Paddington will not run.
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 21 to Friday 27 March 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 0751) London Paddington to Penzance will be diverted after Reading and will no longer call at Newbury or Pewsey. The 0844 (departing 0831) London Paddington to Penzance will call additionally at Newbury and Pewsey.
Saturday 28 March to Friday 3 April 2026
Monday to Thursday from approximately 2145 until end of service each day - Buses will replace trains between Reading, Newbury and Bedwyn.
Tuesday to Thursday - The 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will finish its journey at Reading. An alternative rail connection will be available from Reading to London Paddington. The 0612 Frome to London Paddington will start from Westbury. An EARLIER connecting service will run from Frome to Westbury.
Friday - The 0510 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington and the 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will not run.
Saturday 4 to Friday 10 April 2026
Saturday and Sunday - All weekend, trains between London Paddington / Reading and the West of England will be revised. Trains will either be diverted between Reading and Taunton, not calling at Newbury, Hungerford, Pewsey, Westbury or Castle Cary (on Saturday only, calling additionally at Bristol Temple Meads) or will either not run at all, or will only run for part of their journey. Replacement buses will run between Pewsey and Swindon (connecting at Swindon with diverted trains which will call there additionally), Westbury, Frome, Bruton and Castle Cary, and between Castle Cary and Taunton. Passengers are strongly advised to check their journeys before travelling, especially when travelling later in the day.
Monday - The 0510 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington and the 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will not run. The 0612 Frome to London Paddington will start from Westbury. The 0618 Yeovil Pen Mill to Filton Abbey Wood will start from Westbury. The 1808 London Paddington to Frome will finish its journey at Newbury. In all cases, passengers travelling from stations no longer served should use the next available service.
Monday to Thursday - The 2230 London Paddington to Bedwyn will start from Reading and will be slightly retimed. Tuesday to Friday - The 0531 Bedwyn to London Paddington will be slightly retimed and will finish its journey at Reading. In both cases, alternative rail connections will be available between London Paddington and Reading.
Saturday 11 to Friday 17 April 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.
Sunday until approximately 1500 - Trains between London Paddington / Reading and the West of England will be revised. Some trains will be diverted between Reading and Taunton, not calling at Newbury, Hungerford, Pewsey, Westbury or Castle Cary. A few other trains will not run at all. Replacement buses will run between Pewsey and Swindon (connecting at Swindon with diverted trains which will call there additionally) and between Castle Cary and Taunton.
Saturday 18 to Friday 24 April 2026
Sunday - All day, trains between London Paddington / Reading and the West of England will be revised. Some trains will be diverted between Reading and Taunton, not calling at Newbury, Hungerford, Pewsey, Westbury or Castle Cary. Other trains will not run at all. Replacement buses will run between Pewsey and Swindon (connecting at Swindon with diverted trains which will call there additionally) and between Castle Cary and Taunton. Passengers are strongly advised to check their journeys before travelling.
Sunday - The 0806 Reading to Newbury will not run and the 0833 Reading to Bedwyn will start from Newbury and run slightly later throughout. A replacement bus will run EARLIER from Reading to Newbury.
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.
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.
Best wishes
Steve Smith
Bedwyn Trains Passenger Group