Thursday 5 May 2016

Paddington News - GWR Ticket Hall Opens

Great Western Railway has opened the new ticket hall at London Paddington station. A six-month all GWR rail routes ticket was presented to the 175th customer of the newly opened ticket hall, marking the 175th anniversary of the first train between Bristol and London.

The rail pass, eligible to be used on any Great Western Railway service, was presented by Flagship Duty Station Manager Fatma Fraser to Peter Blowes of Shepperton, south west London.
GWR’s Duty Station Manager Fatma said:
“It’s great to have the new ticket office open, and is a significant step in our GWR journey. The improvements being made to the network will bring Brunel’s railway into the 21st century, paving the way for new electric trains.
“These trains will provide passengers with more seats, more frequent services and faster journeys - helping to drive economic growth across the South West.”

On 30 June 1841 with the opening of Box Tunnel, the first train journeys between Bristol and London began. To mark this landmark anniversary in the life of the Great Western Main Line, GWR is planning several events which will celebrate the achievement and the incredible impact this had on the communities that have been served over the last 175 years.


Paddington is being transformed on the surface and underground as it will be one of the main interchange stations on Crossrail or the Elizabeth Line as it will be known and is already a gateway to London for passengers arriving on the Heathrow services.

The works being carried out include:

  • A new Hammersmith & City line station to ease over-crowding. The new station provides space for future growth in passenger numbers, enhanced quality of access, interchange and ambience
  • A new improved pedestrian entrance from the canal towpath to both Paddington mainline station and the new Hammersmith & City line station
  • A new taxi facility on the eastern side of the mainline station with access to the mainline station by lifts and escalators, a walkway to the new Hammersmith & City line station and a new taxi access ramp from Bishop’s Bridge Road
  • Provision for a future commercial development above the new Hammersmith & City line station and the site adjacent to the existing canal towpath.

More news about Paddington here