Railway services to and from London Paddington have resumed following damage caused to overhead cables but major disruption is still expected. 

On Monday, Great Western Railway services were delayed or cancelled because of the damage at Hayes and Harlington, between London and Reading. 

This meant that people who were planning to travel to London to watch the Queen’s funeral from a vantage point were unable to do so.

Attempts to repair the damage took place overnight, but more extensive damage was discovered meaning that the service remained close through Tuesday morning until two of the four available railway lines into London Paddington finally reopened at 9.30am. 

But, National Rail has said major disruption is expected to continue throughout the day with services being cancelled, delayed or revised, and that services will stop running at 10pm.

Great Western Railway has apologised for the issues caused by the disruption and has advised passengers to only travel if necessary.

The following advice for Great Western Customers has also been issued

Services may be cancelled, delayed or terminated at, and started back from, Reading. Stations between Slough and London Paddington may not be served.

Passengers travelling between London and Reading can travel to/from London Waterloo, using South Western Railway services to/from Reading.

Passengers in London travelling to Oxford and Banbury can travel from London Marylebone. 

Passengers in Windsor travelling to London can travel via Windsor & Eton Riverside to London Waterloo.

Passengers in Windsor travelling west can travel from Windsor & Eton Central to Slough and change at Slough for mainline services to Reading and onwards.

The above travel advice is in place in both directions.

Further travel advice for Great Western Railway customers

Tickets dated for travel on Monday 19 or Tuesday 20 September will be valid for travel up to and including Wednesday 21 September.

You can use your ticket on the following services via any reasonable route:

  • London Buses
  • London Underground
  • CrossCountry
  • First Bus routes 3 / 4 / 7 / X25
  • Reading Buses skyblue 16 / jetBlack 1
  • South Western Railway are accepting tickets via any reasonable route, however, for passengers travelling between London Waterloo and Exeter, your journey may be affected by planned engineering work which is taking place