Upgrades to Dolphin Junction in Slough will affect journeys to and from London Paddington on 28 and 29 November, and at Christmas 2026

What does this mean for your journey?

During the weekend of 28 and 29 November 2026

Travelling between London and Heathrow Airport

• No Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express trains will run to and from Heathrow Airport

• London Underground’s Piccadilly line will be the only train service running between central London and Heathrow Airport

Travelling between London and the West of England or South Wales

• Great Western Railway trains cannot run to / from London Paddington

• Trains to and from the Bristol area / South Wales will be diverted between Swindon and London via an alternative route, and will run to and from London Euston station – journey times will be extended

• Most other long-distance trains will be amended to terminate at, and start back from Reading

• Change at Swindon or Bristol Parkway for services to and from Cheltenham Spa

Travelling between London and Reading

• At Reading, there will be a special fast direct Great Western Railway train service running each way between Reading and Guildford. These trains will connect with South Western Railway services between Guildford and London Waterloo

• The direct trains between Reading or Windsor & Eton Riverside and London Waterloo are expected to be extremely busy due to the international rugby at Twickenham

Travelling between London and Slough, Maidenhead, and other local stations (including on branch lines)

• Elizabeth line trains will be running between Maidenhead and Reading only. There will be no Elizabeth line service between Maidenhead and Abbey Wood, or between Heathrow Airport and Shenfield, throughout the weekend

• For travel to intermediate stations between London Paddington and Reading, London Underground services run between central London and Ealing Broadway. Buses replace trains between Ealing Broadway and Slough, plus between Slough and Maidenhead. Trains will be running between Maidenhead and Reading

• Great Western Railway branch line services will run, except on the Greenford branch

Travelling between London and the Thames Valley or Cotswolds

• Chiltern Railways trains will run between London Marylebone and High Wycombe, Oxford or Banbury

• Change at Oxford for onward connections towards Worcester or Reading

During the Christmas and New Year period, from Sunday 27 December until Sunday 3 January 2027 inclusive

Travelling between London and Heathrow Airport

• No Elizabeth line or Heathrow Express trains will run to and from Heathrow Airport until Wednesday 30 December. Services resume on New Year’s Eve (Thursday 31 December)

• London Underground’s Piccadilly line will be the only train service running between central London and Heathrow Airport from Sunday 27 to Wednesday 30 December

Travelling between London and the West of England or South Wales

• Great Western Railway trains cannot run to / from London Paddington

• Trains to and from the Bristol area / South Wales will be diverted between Swindon and London via an alternative route, and will run to and from London Euston station – journey times will be extended

• Customers cannot use these services at Oxford, Didcot Parkway or Reading

• Most other long-distance trains will be amended to terminate at, and start back from Reading

• Change at Swindon or Bristol Parkway for services to and from Cheltenham Spa

Travelling between London and Reading

• South Western Railway run trains between London Waterloo and Reading

• These trains may be extremely busy on Monday 28 December due to rugby at Twickenham

• There will be engineering work on the South Western Railway network

Travelling between London and Slough, Maidenhead, and other local stations (including on branch lines)

• From Sunday 27 to Wednesday 30 December, Elizabeth line trains will not run between London Paddington and Reading, and Great Western Railway will not run between London Paddington and Slough. London Underground will be running between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway, replacement buses will run between Ealing Broadway and stations to / from Slough

• From New Year’s Eve (Thursday 31 December) to Saturday 2 January, Elizabeth line trains will not run between Hayes & Harlington and Reading. Replacement buses will run between Hayes & Harlington and stations to / from Slough. Great Western Railway trains will be running between Slough and Reading

• On Sunday 3 January, Elizabeth line trains will not run between Hayes & Harlington and Reading. Replacement buses will run between Hayes & Harlington and stations to / from Maidenhead. Great Western Railway trains will be running between Maidenhead and Reading

• Great Western Railway branch line services will run, except on the Greenford branch

Travelling between London and the Thames Valley or Cotswolds

• Chiltern Railways trains will run between London Marylebone and High Wycombe, Oxford or Banbury

• Change at Oxford for onward connections towards Worcester or Reading