Should trains from the South West of England call at Old Oak Common?

[Gwr12345]

Apparently trains from the SW are no longer going to call at Old Oak Common? Can anyone explain the reasons why?

I am glad to confirm Great Western Railway trains travelling from the South West to London Paddington will not stop at Old Oak Common as standard - as had been proposed - and that there will be an additional 26 trains added to the fleet

From Claire Young MP

https://x.com/ClaireforTAY/status/1901013321857593821?t=FCnXKiLNveImg5j3qwPzoQ&s=19

 

[Topological]

Confirmation on the 175s there.

The decision not to call seems backward, but I know that is what some in the South West wanted.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Probably because if you’re travelling from Taunton or further west, Old Oak Common is not a logical place to change into Anglo-Scottish HS2 services? And if you’re travelling to Birmingham, Manchester or the North East, travelling via HS2 isn’t logical at all.

 

[irish_rail]

If, and it's a massive IF ,this turns out to be true then it's an excellent descion. It may herald South west services leaving Paddington ahead of the Bristols (opposite of the current set up) and allow for a slightly quicker journey (certainly be nice for us drivers getting a clear run into Reading). Makes total sense, as others have stated up thread, unless HS2 actually starts serving Scotland etc, nobody from the south west is going to choose to travel to Brimingham via OOC!

 

[Snow1964]

Probably because if you’re travelling from Taunton or further west, Old Oak Common is not a logical place to change into Anglo-Scottish HS2 services? And if you’re travelling to Birmingham, Manchester or the North East, travelling via HS2 isn’t logical at all.

Especially if you forfeit a direct through train for one with a long time change at Old Oak Common. Some routes are only hourly and allowing interchange time might have 65+ minute wait.

There are no published timetables yet, so no one knows if it will be slick connection or long waits (the latter rather defeats the going fast)

 

[irish_rail]

Having just researched who Claire Young is (Gloucestershire MP) , this would rather suggest NO Great western intercity services will be made to stop at Old Oak Common, not just the WofE stuff. Is there now a case for not bothering with the fast line platforms at all, and saving the taxpayer ( and long suffering Western region passengers) a great deal of time, money and engineering possessions.......?

 

[YorkRailFan]

Probably because if you’re travelling from Taunton or further west, Old Oak Common is not a logical place to change into Anglo-Scottish HS2 services? And if you’re travelling to Birmingham, Manchester or the North East, travelling via HS2 isn’t logical at all.

But it would be more convenient for those going to Heathrow to simply change onto the Elizabeth Line at Old Oak Common, instead of having to go into Paddington and backtrack.

 

[irish_rail]

But it would be more convenient for those going to Heathrow to simply change onto the Elizabeth Line at Old Oak Common, instead of having to go into Paddington and backtrack.

Not a good enough reason to slow down the majority of passengers who are not going to Heathrow.

 

[fishwomp]

But it would be more convenient for those going to Heathrow to simply change onto the Elizabeth Line at Old Oak Common, instead of having to go into Paddington and backtrack.

Sure, and at the cost of slower journeys for everyone else.

If the cost of a 30 mins improvement for London Birmingham is a 8+ mins slower journey for everyone else.. then that's nuts.

 

[Class15]

Fantastic decision. It’s good to see the industry make constructive and beneficial changes to plans when needed, and this is definitely a decision that will benefit the majority of passengers.

Not a good enough reason to slow down the majority of passengers who are not going to Heathrow.

Absolutely agree - I wonder what percent of GWR passengers are going on to Heathrow? Also aren’t Heathrow Express very keen on skipping OOC as well?

 

[Snow1964]

But it would be more convenient for those going to Heathrow to simply change onto the Elizabeth Line at Old Oak Common, instead of having to go into Paddington and backtrack.

That's what happens now, and is accepted by those going to/from airport.

If the Heathrow western rail link ever gets built, might even be quicker changing at Reading than backtracking through Ealing and Acton

 

[The Planner]

Unless they have a timetable that allows that to work, I'll believe it when I see it.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

Having just researched who Claire Young is (Gloucestershire MP) , this would rather suggest NO Great western intercity services will be made to stop at Old Oak Common, not just the WofE stuff. Is there now a case for not bothering with the fast line platforms at all, and saving the taxpayer ( and long suffering Western region passengers) a great deal of time, money and engineering possessions.......?

Not building ML platforms would mean OOC receives no service during 2-track timetables when then the RL are closed.

 

[peterson]

I hope this is accurate. Cross Country via Cheltenham or via Reading to reach Birmingham will still be quicker in many cases for the former, and very likely far cheaper for both.

The consensus seemed to be it had to be everything or nothing that stopped at OOC? I wonder if they could find a way to just stop the Didcot semi fasts. That way the new commercial and residential development at OOC, plus its local west London connections, at least get a reasonable connection to the west (in addition to the Elizabeth line).

 

[Benjwri]

Not building ML platforms would mean OOC receives no service during 2-track timetables when then the RL are closed.

Not building the the ML platforms would simply just be a horrific waste of money. More than a year ago the designs were nearly finished. Ripping them up and starting again, and in turn significantly delaying the project, would be far more expensive than just building them.

 

[Bald Rick]

Not building the the ML platforms would simply just be a horrific waste of money. More than a year ago the designs were nearly finished. Ripping them up and starting again, and in turn significantly delaying the project, would be far more expensive than just building them.

Agree. And if (it’s a big if) the main lines won’t see regular calls in normal service, they certainly will when the Relief lines are closed for engineering works.

 

[Taunton]

I understood that stopping WofE services (and other GWR expresses) at Old Oak was wholly to serve Heathrow and direct transfer to Crossrail. I don't believe anyone thought it was for passengers from Taunton, Cardiff, or wherever to get to Birmingham or Manchester. These are services from parts of the country which, unlike Birmingham or Manchester, have no significant international airport.

 

[lachlan]

Here's hoping the Chippenham, Bath, Swindon services still call at Old Oak Common - changing on to an HS2 service towards Scotland would be a massive improvement over changing terminii in London.

 

[Snow1964]

Here's hoping the Chippenham, Bath, Swindon services still call at Old Oak Common - changing on to an HS2 service towards Scotland would be a massive improvement over changing terminii in London.

It would be even more of an improvement if one or two daily services ran direct, even using Greenford spur and Ruislip, although rather cut idea off due to track layout

 

[sh24]

OOC will offer an easy transfer to the Elizabeth line as well as interchange on Overground. Withholding connectivity for the South West seems a strange decision.

 

[The Planner]

It would be even more of an improvement if one or two daily services ran direct, even using Greenford spur and Ruislip, although rather cut idea off due to track layout

How would that work?

 

[Topological]

OOC will offer an easy transfer to the Elizabeth line as well as interchange on Overground. Withholding connectivity for the South West seems a strange decision.

This is my take.

Our obsession with having a terminal near a city centre (and Paddington is not that near) means we are too often unwilling to accept interchanges on the edge of cities (as OOC is).

Equivalently, if I had a magic money tree I would get all services on the GEML to Norwich to serve an expanded Stratford (the current platforms are not great).

Also, while the tree is having a rattle, then similar fast islands at Willesden Junction so that all services on the WCML stop there. (This is assuming a sensible connection between Willesden Junction and OOC can be made)

I often want to change to either Heathrow or the Elizabeth line and OOC will be perfect for that.

 

[PGAT]

I was under the impression that the majority of journeys to Paddington involve onward travel into Central London as it is not the best located terminus. Given that OOC would provide a quicker interchange onto the Elizabeth Line as well as more options outside of London such as Heathrow and HS2, I would’ve thought the case for a stop would be rock solid but it appears most people are applauding the removal of it

Wouldn’t it also put extra pressure on the Elizabeth Line from unnecessary journeys needing to double back from Paddington? There’s already concerns about overcrowding once the station opens

 

[Class 170101]

Oh well wait for the next complaint when GW passengers cannot get on these trains at Paddington as they have already filled up with people boarding at the previous (starter) station at Old Oak Common.

 

[Topological]

Oh well wait for the next complaint when GW passengers cannot get on these trains at Paddington as they have already filled up with people boarding at the previous (starter) station at Old Oak Common.

Those people who cannot then get on the Elizabeth Line (like all of us who benefit from OOC going to Heathrow) do not matter. The "majority" who go to Paddington will have been saved the inconvenience of a few minutes to call at OOC.

IF headline journey times are so important, there are plenty of sections of track that could be invested in to recouperate the time lost for OOC calls.

 

[Taunton]

IF headline journey times are so important, there are plenty of sections of track that could be invested in to recuperate the time lost for OOC calls.

Headline long distance journey times were given up a generation ago when the railway realised there was more revenue to be made by stopping at the major points and turning their main services into a sort of outer-suburban turn-up-and-go operation. That's why there are no first stop Bath services any more, and a very frequent service to Reading and Swindon.

One of the issues for Old Oak Common is that while it will be notably convenient for those travelling long distance to Heathrow or Crossrail, in the opposite direction when wishing to board they may well find all seats taken by those just travelling to Reading etc, who all piled into the next departure at Paddington in the minutes before departure.

 

[Bald Rick]

One of the issues for Old Oak Common is that while it will be notably convenient for those travelling long distance to Heathrow or Crossrail, in the opposite direction when wishing to board they may well find all seats taken by those just travelling to Reading etc, who all piled into the next departure at Paddington in the minutes before departure.

Quite

 

[Topological]

Headline long distance journey times were given up a generation ago when the railway realised there was more revenue to be made by stopping at the major points and turning their main services into a sort of outer-suburban turn-up-and-go operation. That's why there are no first stop Bath services any more, and a very frequent service to Reading and Swindon.

One of the issues for Old Oak Common is that while it will be notably convenient for those travelling long distance to Heathrow or Crossrail, in the opposite direction when wishing to board they may well find all seats taken by those just travelling to Reading etc, who all piled into the next departure at Paddington in the minutes before departure.

It will definitely be an issue, especially if GWR continue to have issues with the 80x that prevent the correct reservations from displaying.

Perhaps make the entrances at OOC at the "country" end to circumvent the problem of people at Paddington not walking down the train.

 

[weeklycommuter]

One of the issues for Old Oak Common is that while it will be notably convenient for those travelling long distance to Heathrow or Crossrail, in the opposite direction when wishing to board they may well find all seats taken by those just travelling to Reading etc, who all piled into the next departure at Paddington in the minutes before departure.

Just make the long distance GWR services pick up only Westbound and set down only Eastbound at Reading so tickets between Paddington/Old Oak Common and Reading are not valid on these services.

 

[Taunton]

It will definitely be an issue, especially if GWR continue to have issues with the 80x that prevent the correct reservations from displaying.

Perhaps make the entrances at OOC at the "country" end to circumvent the problem of people at Paddington not walking down the train.

Given that inbound aircraft are completely unreliable for when they turn up at Heathrow, along with not knowing how long it takes for the bags to be delivered etc, reservations for those continuing onwards to the West Country are quite impractical, especially for destinations served multiple times an hour. You just want to get on the next one.