A new summer timetable on the Great Western Railway network will deliver more trains "where they are needed most".

The new timetable rollout starts this Sunday and sees the return of weekday, SuperFast services between London Paddington and South Wales for the first time since March 2020.

The changes will also see a doubling of midday capacity from London Paddington and Plymouth; and additional services on the corridor between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway.

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “We are continuing to work closely with our industry partners to improve performance and capacity so that we can deliver the services our customers expect. 

“Services that help to support the local and regional economy and connect people to work, to schools and colleges, to friends and family and to some of the best leisure destinations in the UK.”

Two new early evening weekday services between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway allow for the introduction of two SuperFast trains to Swansea, with journey-time savings of up to 30 minutes.

The trains run fast from London Paddington to Bristol Parkway (not stopping at Reading and Swindon) before continuing to south Wales.

Direct services between Bristol Temple Meads and Oxford are also planned to be restored for the first time in more than 20 years. In response to growth in demand for leisure travel.

Helping people to make more sustainable transport choices, the half-hourly services introduced last December between Reading and Gatwick airport are being retimed to make a better clock-face timetable. Services are being retimed to depart Reading at xx20 and xx50; and from Gatwick at xx26 and xx56.