Our busy trains

Updated 18 January 2022

See how busy our most popular routes and trains usually are.

London
Stopping services to and from Reading/Didcot/Newbury
- during the week, fast services from Maidenhead and Slough to London can be busy in the morning peak – services leaving Maidenhead and Slough after 08:30 usually have more space
- The 07:16 and 09:14 trains from Didcot Parkway to London Paddington are often particularly busy as well as the 18:20 train from London Paddington to Didcot Parkway
- at weekends, trains can be busy between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway/Hayes & Harlington/Slough but are quieter west of these stations
Fast services to and from Reading/Didcot/Swindon
- most trains Monday to Thursday have space
- trains can be very busy on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday – please book in advance where possible
- trains leaving London Paddington between 19:00 and 19:30 are often busier
To/from Avon, Bath, and Bristol
- on Monday to Thursday, the 06:20 Weston-super-Mare to London Paddington train is often busy as well as the 19:02 London Paddington to Weston-super-Mare train
- on Friday, the 19:02 London Paddington to Weston-super-Mare train is often very busy – we recommend making a reservation where you can
- on Saturday, trains leaving Bristol Temple Meads or London Paddington in the morning are often very busy – we recommend making a reservation where you can
- on Sunday, trains leaving Bristol Temple Meads or London Paddington in the afternoon and evening are often very busy, we recommend making a reservation where you can
To/from Devon and Cornwall
- most trains on Monday to Thursday have space
- trains are often busy, particularly on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday – we recommend making a reservation where you can
To/from South Wales
- between Swansea and Cardiff most GWR trains have space
- most trains have space from Monday to Thursday, however, the 19:18 and 19:48 trains from London Paddington to Swansea are often busy as well as the 17:48 train to Carmarthen
- trains are significantly busier on Friday, Saturday morning, and on Sunday – we recommend making a reservation where you can
To/from South Cotswolds (Gloucester, Cheltenham, Stroud etc)
- most trains have space on Monday to Thursday but the 06:48 Cheltenham to London Paddington services is often busier
- on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, trains can often be busier – we recommend making a reservation where you can
- most trains have space Monday to Thursday
- trains can be very busy between London Paddington and Oxford on Friday evenings, and at weekends – we recommend making a reservation where you can
To/from Castle Cary/Frome/Westbury/Pewsey/Newbury
- trains are often busy, particularly on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday – we recommend making a reservation where you can
Avon, Bath and Bristol
To London
- on Monday to Thursday, the 06:20 Weston-super-Mare to London Paddington train is often busy as well as the 19:02 London Paddington to Weston-super-Mare train
- on Friday, the 19:02 London Paddington to Weston-super-Mare train is often very busy – we recommend making a reservation where you can
- on Saturday, trains leaving Bristol Temple Meads or London Paddington in the morning are often very busy – we recommend making a reservation where you can
- on Sunday, trains leaving Bristol Temple Meads or London Paddington in the afternoon and evening are often very busy – we recommend making a reservation where you can
To South Wales
- most trains have space
To Weston-super-Mare/Taunton/Exeter
- most trains have space, but Friday is often busier
To Severn Beach
- most trains have space
- trains immediately before and after school hours are often busier
To Gloucester, Cheltenham and Worcester
- most trains have space
- the 08:54 Worcester Foregate Street to Westbury train on Saturdays is often busier
- the 15:30 Warminster to Worcester Foregate Street train on Monday to Friday is often busier
Between Bristol, Bath, Westbury, Salisbury, Southampton and Portsmouth
- trains are often busy between Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury particularly between 07:30 and 09:00 and between 15:00 and 19:00
- trains can be busy at weekends – we recommend making a reservation where you can
Devon and Cornwall
To/from London
- most trains on Monday to Thursday have space
- trains are often busy, particularly on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday – we recommend making a reservation where you can
To/from Bristol/Cardiff
- most GWR trains have space but Friday is often busier
Between Exeter and Penzance
- most GWR trains have space but Friday is often busier
To St Ives
- most trains have space
Between Truro and Falmouth
- most trains have space but on weekdays the 08:15 Falmouth Docks to Truro train is often busier
Between Liskeard and Looe
- most trains have space
Between Par and Newquay
- most trains have space
Between Plymouth and Gunnislake
- most trains have space
- on weekdays, the 07:29 Gunnislake to Plymouth train (arriving Plymouth 08:14) and the 16:34 Plymouth to Gunnislake train (arriving Gunnislake at 17:20) are often busy
- earlier and later services are likely to have more space
Exeter to Exmouth, Paignton, and North Devon
- trains can often be busy on weekdays – it’s normally quieter before 08:00 in the morning and after 17:30 in the evening
- trains are often quieter at weekends
South Wales
Swansea and Cardiff to London
- between Swansea and Cardiff most GWR trains have space
- most trains have space on Monday to Thursday, however, the 19:18 and 19:48 trains from London Paddington to Swansea are often busy as well as the 17:48 train to Carmarthen
- trains are significantly busier on Friday, Saturday morning and on Sunday – we recommend making a reservation where you can
Cardiff/Newport to Bristol
- most trains have space
South Cotswolds and Swindon
To and from London
- most trains have space on Monday to Thursday but the 06:48 Cheltenham to London Paddington services is often busier
- on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, trains can often be busier – we recommend making a reservation where you can
To and from Bristol/Worcester
- most trains have space
- the 08:54 Worcester Foregate Street to Westbury train on Saturdays is often busier
- the 15:30 Warminster to Worcester Foregate Street train on Monday to Friday is often busier
To and from Swindon/Westbury
- most trains have space
North Cotswolds/Oxford
To/from North Cotswolds (Worcester, Hereford etc) and Oxford
- most trains have space Monday to Thursday
- trains can be very busy between London Paddington and Oxford on Friday evenings and at weekends – we recommend making a reservation where you can
Worcester to the South Cotswolds and Bristol
- most trains have space
- the 08:54 Worcester Foregate Street to Westbury train on Saturdays is often busier
- the 15:30 Warminster to Worcester Foregate Street train on Monday to Friday is often busier
Between Banbury and Oxford
- most trains have space, but the 07:34 Didcot to Banbury train can be busy
Didcot and Reading/Thames Valley
Stopping services to and from London
- during the week, fast services from Maidenhead and Slough to London can be busy in the morning peak – services leaving Maidenhead and Slough after 08:30 usually have more space
- The 07:16 and 09:14 trains from Didcot Parkway to London Paddington are often particularly busy as well as the 18:20 train from London Paddington to Didcot Parkway
- at weekends, trains can be busy between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway/Hayes & Harlington/Slough but are quieter west of these stations
Fast services to and from London
- most trains Monday to Thursday have space
- trains can be very busy on Friday, Saturday and Sunday – please book in advance where possible
- trains leaving London Paddington between 19:00 and 19:30 are often busier
Reading to Guildford, Redhill, and Gatwick Airport
- most trains have space
Between Reading and Basingstoke
- most trains have space
Branch lines between Reading and London
- most trains have space
Stopping services to and from London
- during the week, fast services from Maidenhead and Slough to London can be busy in the morning peak. Services leaving Maidenhead and Slough after 08:30 usually have more space.
- The 07:16 and 09:14 trains from Didcot Parkway to London Paddington are often particularly busy as well as the 18:20 train from London Paddington to Didcot Parkway
- at weekends, trains can be busy between London Paddington and Ealing Broadway/Hayes & Harlington/Slough but are quieter west of these stations
Fast services to and from London
- most trains Monday to Thursday have space
- trains can be very busy on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, please book in advance where possible
- trains leaving London Paddington between 19:00 and 19:30 are often busier
Reading to Guildford, Redhill, and Gatwick Airport
- most trains have space
Between Reading and Basingstoke
- most trains have space
Branch lines between Reading and London
- most trains have space
South Coast
Between Castle Cary and Weymouth
- most trains have space
Between Southampton and Portsmouth and towards Bristol and Cardiff
- between Westbury, Salisbury, Southampton and Portsmouth, most trains will have space, but are often busier between Westbury and Bristol
Castle Cary/Frome/Westbury/Pewsey/Newbury
To and from London
- trains are often busy, particularly on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday – we recommend making a reservation where you can
Westbury to Bristol/Southampton
- between Westbury, Salisbury, Southampton and Portsmouth, most trains will have space, but are often busier between Westbury and Bristol
Castle Cary to Weymouth
- most trains have space
Westbury to Swindon and Gloucester
- most trains have space

Check your journey

From

Departure Information

Please press enter to select a journey date

Travel safely

GWR are working closely with Government and public health agencies in response to the current Coronavirus situation.

Find out more

Updated 18 January 2022

To London

To/from London

Swansea and Cardiff to London

Cardiff/Newport to Bristol

To and from London

To/from North Cotswolds (Worcester, Hereford etc) and Oxford

Stopping services to and from London

Between Castle Cary and Weymouth

To and from London

Travel safely