Slough to London train: more direct services needed says MP

Windsor MP Jack Rankin has asked officials from Great Western Railway (GRW) and Transport for London to bring in more frequent direct services from Slough to London Paddington. It comes after GWR cut its peak-time direct trains between the two stations last year.

Mr Rankin said the move had ‘impacted many of my constituents commuting into London’ – and raised the issue with the two transport bodies at a recent meeting in parliament.

Direct peak-time trains between Slough and London were cut in changes to GWR’s timetable in May last year. It means that in peak times Slough is now only served only by the Elizabeth Line, with the fastest train taking 28 minutes to Paddington.

Jack Rankin (left) discusses timetables with a Transport for London official (Image: Jack Rankin)

The changes came after Elizabeth Line services to Slough opened in May last year. However transport officials said this meant there was less space for the GWR services.

GWR removed Slough from its Oxford and North Cotswold services, which run fast between Reading and London Paddington. But it did add Slough to its Didcot Parkway service from London Paddington.

That means there is still a direct train from Slough to London Paddington, but only at off peak times. GWR says this also means journey times reduced overall.

But Mr Rankin says he has been contacted by ‘numerous constituents’ about the issue since he was elected in July this year.

He says he raised the need for more frequent direct services at a Network Rail drop-in session in parliament, and is seeking a one-to-one meeting with Great Western Railway.