Train disruption expected until 2028 for Old Oak Common 'superhub'

GWR has confirmed there will be a series of reduced and cancelled services between Paddington and Reading across several years as work ramps up on the Old Oak Common ‘superhub’.

Old Oak Common is a major transport interchange being built in Hammersmith & Fulham. It is expected to serve about 250,000 passengers each day.

Fourteen platforms – six high-speed and eight conventional – are planned.

Construction is in full swing and work on the new station, due to finish in 2028. Services are due to start in 2030.

When complete, the ‘superhub’ will connect HS2 to the Great Western main line, the railway that runs from Paddington to Bristol, among other branches - linking a range of train services.

Old Oak Common is set to be the 42nd stop on the Elizabeth Line, between Acton Main Line and Paddington.

To accommodate the construction of the station, the Great Western main line needs to be realigned – affecting GWR services for the foreseeable future.

Fewer trains have been running between Paddington and Reading on Sundays this month – and this is on the cards to continue until at least May 2025, with further disruptions predicted.

Moreover, the company has said that further engineering work is planned over the next few years while Old Oak Common is being completed - meaning disruption could continue until 2028.

A reduced GWR service is set for the following dates this year: September 29; October 6, 13, 20 and 27; November 24; and December 8 and 15.

In addition to these Sunday disruptions, there will be fewer trains on November 16 (Saturday) between London Paddington and Reading.

Specific dates for the disruption expected from January to May 2025 are yet to be detailed.

In addition, there will no GWR mainline trains to or from Paddington on Sunday, November 17 and from December 27-29 this year.

Some GWR services will be diverted to London Euston and other trains will start/terminate at Reading or Ealing Broadway instead.

There will be no Elizabeth line services operating between Ealing Broadway and Stratford/Abbey Wood on November 16/17.*

On December 27-29, no services at all will call at Paddington, says Network Rail – inclduing the Elizabeth line.

There will be no Elizabeth line services between Ealing Broadway and Paddington and passengers will need to change for the Circle or District lines at Ealing Broadway to get into London.

GWR train services between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central, Maidenhead and Marlow or Twyford will also run as normal.

A spokesperson for GWR said:

“During the works, Elizabeth line trains and GWR services will continue to serve Ealing Broadway where customers will be able to change onto London Underground services to continue their journeys into London.

“Alternatively, we will also be operating some long distances services on a diversionary route into London Euston.”

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “We appreciate there is never a good time to disrupt journeys but whenever possible we do this at times when fewer people are travelling, such as at Christmas, on bank holidays or at weekends.  

 “We thank passengers in advance for their patience and urge them to please check before they travel.”  

*Update: A previous version of this article said the Elizabeth line was not set for disruption on November 16/17, according to the TfL website. This information has since been updated.