Passengers warned of 43 days of full station closures as works at Old Oak Common impact services
Paddington Station passengers are set to endure more than 180 days of disruption due to ongoing HS2 construction work at Old Oak Common, including 43 days when the station will be completely shut, MPs have been informed.
The disruption, which is set to span several years, includes a three-day closure immediately after Christmas, from December 27-29, when the Great Western mainline will be closed to facilitate work at Old Oak Common. The scale of the disruption was revealed during a parliamentary debate.
Lib Dem MP Max Wilkinson, representing Cheltenham, stated that the disruption would last for five years, with the added complication of slower trains between London and Wales once the Old Oak Common station opens around 2030. Wilkinson’s analysis outlined specific periods of disruption over the coming years, totalling 181 days, including 43 full station closures. The years 2024-2029 will see substantial impact, especially on Sundays and during Christmas periods, when services will be particularly affected.
This widespread disruption will particularly affect residents in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Bristol, South Wales, and various parts of England, including Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire. Constituencies in these regions will experience slower journeys and train cancellations, causing major inconvenience to commuters.
A significant concern raised during the debate was the potential impact on the Glastonbury Festival, with Tessa Munt, the Lib Dem MP for Wells and Mendip Hills, highlighting the disruption to travel on Sundays, a key time for festival-goers. This could have serious consequences for event attendees travelling in and out of Glastonbury.
The 14-platform Old Oak Common station, costing £2 billion to build, will serve as the southern terminus for HS2 until the completion of the Euston station. While the opening of the station is not expected before 2040, it will act as a hub for multiple transport services, including the Elizabeth Line, Great Western Railway, and the Heathrow Express.
Journey times for trains passing through the station will be affected, with additional time added to all services. Even non-stop “fast” trains will experience delays due to track realignment.
During some closures, Great Western Railway services will divert to Euston, though the full impact of these changes is still under review. Transport Minister Lilian Greenwood acknowledged the unavoidable disruptions and assured that more details will be shared in spring 2025.
The Department for Transport and rail authorities are currently working to mitigate the disruption, though the full extent of future works will continue to evolve as the construction of Old Oak Common progresses.