GWR will introduce Class 387 EMUs on more Thames Valley services when timetables change, reports PHILIP SHERRATT
Great Western Railway’s EMU empire continues to expand as the New Year dawns. While the main national timetable change is on 10 December, GWR is delaying its alterations until 2 January so they take place after the extensive engineering works planned for the Christmas holiday period.
From this point, nearly all GWR’s relief line services between Paddington and Didcot Parkway will switch to Class 387 operation. Most peak electric services will comprise eight coaches, with some running as 12-car formations. Many peak hour calls at Southall, West Drayton, Iver, Langley, Burnham and Taplow will move between services, while services which were split at Maidenhead earlier this year to allow ‘387s’ to be introduced to that point will run through to Reading or beyond once more.
However, a consequence of the decision to defer electrification between Didcot and Oxford is that London to Oxford stopping services will be split at Didcot Parkway, with a Turbo DMU shuttle serving intermediate stations between Didcot and Oxford. Most Banbury to Oxford services will merge with these shuttles and run through…
