GREAT Western Railway (GWR) has announced its biggest timetable change in almost five years to match travel patterns.

The train service has said it is responding to changes in passenger patterns, with more Elizabeth Line services planned.

Great Western Railway claim the changes will speed up journey times, serve more stations and provide greater value for money.

Changes to Thames Valley services:

  • From May 22, the Elizabeth Line service will reach maximum level with up to 10 train per hour, travelling east of Heathrow to London.
  • London Paddington-Didcot Parkway electric train services will run non-stop from Slough to Paddington on the mainline. This can save up to 10 minutes of journey time.
  • The 6.34am Didcot to Paddington, 8.31am Reading-Paddington, 4.56pm Paddington-Maidenhead and 5.57pm Paddington-Reading services will be replaced by Elizabeth Line services.
  • London Paddington to Oxford services will now call at Didcot Parkway.
  • Windsor, Marlow, Henley, Greenford branch line services will be retimed to connect better with mainline services.
  • London Paddington to North Cotswolds off peak services will no longer call at Slough. This will mean the London Paddington to Reading section of this service will be non-stop, saving five minutes of journey time.

Welcoming the new plans, Maidenhead MP, Theresa May, said: “I welcome the announcement that from May 2023 local people will benefit from faster and more frequent off peak services to London. I am also pleased to see services on the Marlow and Henley branch lines linking in with the mainline services giving better connections for travellers.

“As your MP I will continue to work for investment in Maidenhead’s railways. These faster off peak trains will improve our rail services. Taken together with the increased frequency of trains they will generate significant economic benefits for our local area.”

The new timetable will deliver almost a 5% increase in services every day across the GWR network.

The number of GWR services on an average weekday will increase from 1,643 in May 2019 to 1,720 in May 2023.

GWR managing director, Mark Hopwood, said: “With this new timetable we can now speed up some journey times, realizing some long-held aspirations of ours and our customers.

“Those using our branch lines will also benefit from better connectivity with the timetable working more harmoniously with Elizabeth line services.

“This new timetable delivers more train services, serving even more stations, and providing greater value for money for taxpayers.”

Visit Great Western Railway’s website for more details and timetable changes here.