GWR Diversions over East West Rail - Nov 2026

[Mike99]

28th November this year gives us Paddington Closed, Kings Cross Closed and GEML terminating at Shenfield limited service out of Liverpool Street only on the West Anglia Lines.

 

[A S Leib]

From the sounds of it, Chiltern's pulling trains from the Amersham line to strengthen Oxford services during the Paddington closure; is this the first time this has (will have) happened?

(Sorry if there's a different thread on GWR engineering works rather than specifically EWR diversions.)

Saturday 28th November 2026:

An amended timetable will be in operation, in respect of the following:

Paddington - Oxford (GWR) route closure.
An enhanced Chiltern Railways service will operate between Marylebone - High Wycombe - Bicester Village - Oxford, with lengthened and some additional trains.

In connection with the Paddington - Oxford route closure, no Chiltern Railways train services will operate between Marylebone and Aylesbury Vale Parkway (via Amersham). Rail replacement buses will operate as follows, connecting with London Underground Metropolitan Line services to/from Baker Street at Amersham.

Amersham - Great Missenden - Wendover - Stoke Mandeville - Aylesbury - Aylesbury Vale Parkway.

RTT had one seven-car Oxford to Marylebone service today, which I don't know if it actually ran or was a case of not deleting the original unit after a set swap; is that the maximum length?

 

[The Planner]

From the sounds of it, Chiltern's pulling trains from the Amersham line to strengthen Oxford services during the Paddington closure; is this the first time this has (will have) happened?

(Sorry if there's a different thread on GWR engineering works rather than specifically EWR diversions.)

No. Chiltern have been known to ask NR to do work on the Met side if the WCML is closed to do this.

 

[800002]

From the sounds of it, Chiltern's pulling trains from the Amersham line to strengthen Oxford services during the Paddington closure; is this the first time this has (will have) happened?

No. But one of the only times where there isnt any planned HS2 or 4LM work on the Met LUL line.

RTT had one seven-car Oxford to Marylebone service today, which I don't know if it actually ran or was a case of not deleting the original unit after a set swap; is that the maximum length?

It's a mis-form, should have been a pair of 4 cars. (8, total on 1Y10 - 0638 OXF - MYB).

No. Chiltern have been known to ask NR to do work on the Met side if the WCML is closed to do this.

Indeed, little more HS2 work left at this point in time I think

 

[sammyg901]

Chiltern often pulls some or all Met line trains to support mainline either for Euston closures or Wembley events, not particularly unusual

 

[800002]

Chiltern often pulls some or all Met line trains to support mainline either for Euston closures or Wembley events, not particularly unusual

However, previously, more often than not they were unable to run on the Met line due to possessions.
Wembley events tend to see an early shut down in the met in the mid- evening at weekends.

 

[CR165022]

RTT had one seven-car Oxford to Marylebone service today, which I don't know if it actually ran or was a case of not deleting the original unit after a set swap; is that the maximum length?

That's booked, and is actually booked as an 8 but was short formed today. Although that service has to use platform 3 at Oxford, the bay platforms can only hold 6 carriages.

Chiltern often pulls some or all Met line trains to support mainline either for Euston closures or Wembley events, not particularly unusual

As someone who lives on that line, I can say that they don't hesitate to completely pull the whole met line service at any opportunity!

 

[Bletchleyite]

No. But one of the only times where there isnt any planned HS2 or 4LM work on the Met LUL line.

They do it all the time when there isn't engineering work. Any large Wembley event. It's sort of greater good, but it's also a bit naughty. I suppose comparable with Merseyrail cutting service on some routes to provide enhanced Grand National capacity.

 

[800002]

They do it all the time when there isn't engineering work. Any large Wembley event. It's sort of greater good, but it's also a bit naughty. I suppose comparable with Merseyrail cutting service on some routes to provide enhanced Grand National capacity.

It can't be naughty, as you say, of its agreed.
It's either supported or not supported by the purseholder.
If they do it, it's agreed.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Aug 2026 ==

As someone who lives on that line, I can say that they don't hesitate to completely pull the whole met line service at any opportunity!

Do you have to use the replacement busses?

 

[Bletchleyite]

It can't be naughty, as you say, of its agreed.
It's either supported or not supported by the purseholder.

It's naughty in that it leaves people without a proper service.

Do you have to use the replacement busses?

Those not wanting to use them and going actually to Aylesbury can use the service via Wycombe, but it is slow!

 

[800002]

Those not wanting to use them and going actually to Aylesbury can use the service via Wycombe, but it is slow!

Then they still have a train service (albeit, just not a fast).
I don't immediately see what the issue is.

 

[Hophead]

Rather depends on where you're starting from though?

 

[800002]

Hence my original question.

 

[Harpo]

They do it all the time when there isn't engineering work. Any large Wembley event. It's sort of greater good, but it's also a bit naughty. I suppose comparable with Merseyrail cutting service on some routes to provide enhanced Grand National capacity.

GWR (almost back on topic!) cuts services to resource special events such as Glastonbury.

 

[The exile]

It's naughty in that it leaves people without a proper service.

But presumably still with a service that is a darn sight better than what is deemed sufficient for many other populous parts of the country (ie no trains at all). OK, I’m making the assumption that an Amersham - Aylesbury shuttle is maintained…

 

[800002]

an Amersham - Aylesbury shuttle is maintained…

By road vehicle, yes.

 

[The exile]

By road vehicle, yes.

In that case, agreed. Not acceptable.

 

[norbitonflyer]

They do it all the time when there isn't engineering work. Any large Wembley event. It's sort of greater good, but it's also a bit naughty. I suppose comparable with Merseyrail cutting service on some routes to provide enhanced Grand National capacity.

Or Shepperton services diverted via Twickenham instead of Kingston whenever the Rugby is on. OK, greater goid and all that, but thete is never any advance notice as there would be for maintenance work.

 

[800002]

Or Shepperton services diverted via Twickenham instead of Kingston whenever the Rugby is on. OK, greater goid and all that, but thete is never any advance notice as there would be for maintenance work.

Apart from when the rugby game is announced.

Some operators can be fairly poor at communicating this information, however.