Passengers at Paddington will endure over 180 days of disruption due to HS2 construction, including complete station closures.
London: So, it looks like Paddington station is going to be a bit of a mess for the next 180 days. They’re doing some major HS2 work, and it’s going to affect a lot of passengers. There will even be 43 days when the station is completely shut down!
Right after Christmas, from December 27 to 29, the Great Western main line will be closed for three days. That’s when they’ll be working on Old Oak Common station. It’s a big deal, and it came up during a recent parliamentary debate.
Max Wilkinson, a Lib Dem MP, mentioned that this disruption is just the beginning. He said we’re looking at five years of chaos, and once Old Oak Common opens around 2030, every train from the west and south Wales to London will be slower.
He broke it down: 29 days of disruption in 2024/25, 30 in 2025/26, and so on. By the time we hit 2028-29, there will be 47 days of disruption, including 18 days when no trains will run at all. That’s a lot of headaches for commuters!
Wilkinson pointed out that most of this mess will happen on Sundays and during Christmas. He stressed that many areas will be affected, including Cornwall, Devon, and parts of Wales. That’s a lot of people who will have to find other ways to travel.
Tessa Munt, another Lib Dem MP, raised concerns about how this could impact the Glastonbury festival. Many folks travel in and out on Sundays, so this could really hurt the event.
Wilkinson didn’t hold back, saying weekends are going to be a nightmare. He’s calling for better Sunday services on Great Western Railway.
Old Oak Common station is a big project, costing around £2 billion. It’s set to be HS2’s southern terminus until the new station at Euston is ready, which might not be until around 2040.
When it’s up and running, Old Oak Common will connect HS2 with the Elizabeth line, Great Western Railway, and the Heathrow Express. But, it’s not all good news. Mainline trains stopping there will have extra time added to their journeys.
Even the “fast” trains that don’t stop will see delays because the tracks are being realigned. During the closures, some Great Western Railway services will be rerouted to Euston.
Transport minister Lilian Greenwood said it’s just not possible to build Old Oak Common without causing some disruption. She mentioned that a significant blockade was planned for December 2026, but that’s being pushed back.
Rail minister Lord Hendy is working with HS2 and others to try to lessen the impact of the construction. He said Old Oak Common should be operational between 2029 and 2033, and more details will come out in the spring.
Network Rail has been asked for comments, but it’s clear that Paddington passengers are in for a rough ride ahead!