NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Great Western Main Line

The Great Western Main Line is a main line railway in England that runs westwards from London Paddington station to Temple Meads station in Bristol. The term is also used to denote a wider group of routes, see Associated routes below. Looking north, Maidenhead Railway Bridge (Isambard Kingdom Brunel, 1838) crossing the River Thames at Maidenhead. ... Looking north, Maidenhead Railway Bridge (Isambard Kingdom Brunel, 1838) crossing the River Thames at Maidenhead. ... Maidenhead Railway Bridge is a railway bridge carrying the main line of the Great Western Railway over the River Thames in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Hammersmith and City Line is a line of the London Underground, coloured salmon pink on the Tube map. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Paddington Station, March 2005 during rush hour Paddington station or London Paddington station is a major National Rail and London Underground station complex in the Paddington area of London. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Royal Oak is a station on the Hammersmith and City Line in Zone 2, between Westbourne Park tube station and Paddington station. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Westbourne Park is a London Underground station on the Hammersmith & City Line, opened on February 1, 1866. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... The West London Line is a short overground railway linking Clapham Junction in the south to Willesden Junction in the north. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Old Oak Common TMD is situated to the west of London, in Old Oak Common. ... North Pole depot is the UK depot for the Eurostar service, maintaing and storing the Eurostar trains. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Chiltern Main Line is a name for the railway line between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill stations. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... A North London Line train pulls into Stratford station during the morning rush Geographical map of the North London Line Line map of the North London Line showing connections and zones A North London Line train at North Woolwich station The North London Line is a railway line through northern... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Acton Main Line railway station is a National Rail station in Acton in west London. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... London Transport Portal The Central Line is a line of the London Underground and coloured red on the tube map. ... The District Line is a line of the London Underground, coloured green on the Tube map. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Ealing Broadway is a main line and London Underground railway station, in Ealing. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... West Ealing railway station was opened in 1871 as Castle Hill and Ealing Dene on the Great Western Railway, which was constructed from Paddington through Ealing to Bristol in 1836-8. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Greenford station is a London Underground and National Rail station in Greenford, Middlesex. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Hanwell railway station is a railway station in Hanwell in the London Borough of Ealing. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Wharncliffe Viaduct is a brick-built viaduct that carries the Great Western Main Line railway across the Brent Valley, at Hanwell, Middlesex, UK, at an elevation of 65 feet. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Southall railway station is a station in Southall, London. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Hayes and Harlington railway station is a railway station in Hayes and Harlington in the London Borough of Hillingdon. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... London Heathrow Airport (IATA airport code: LHR, ICAO airport code: EGLL, and often simply Heathrow) is the United Kingdoms busiest and best-connected airport. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... West Drayton railway station is a railway station in West Drayton in the London Borough of Hillingdon. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Uxbridge Vine Street station was the first of three railway stations to be opened in Uxbridge. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Colnbrook is a village in the unitary authority of Slough, in Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The M25 motorway looking south between junctions 14 and 15, near Heathrow Airport. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Iver railway station is a railway station in Iver, Buckinghamshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Langley railway station is a railway station in Langley, a suburb of Slough, Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Slough railway station is a railway station in the town of Slough, Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Slough to Windsor & Eton Branch Line is a small railway line from the Great Western Main Line at Slough to Windsor and Eton, Berkshire in Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Burnham railway station is a railway station in Burnham, Buckinghamshire, close by Slough, Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Taplow railway station is a railway station in Taplow, Buckinghamshire, close by Slough, Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Maidenhead Railway Bridge is a railway bridge carrying the main line of the Great Western Railway over the River Thames in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. ... The Thames is a river flowing through southern England, and one of the major waterways in England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Maidenhead railway station is a railway station in the town of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Marlow Branch Line is a small railway line between Maidenhead in Berkshire, England and Marlow in Buckinghamshire. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Twyford railway station is a railway station in the village of Twyford in the county of Berkshire in England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Henley Banch Line is a small railway line between Twyford in Berkshire, England and Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Sonning Cutting is on the original Great Western Railway built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Waterloo to Reading Line is one of the suburban railway lines operated by South West Trains (SWT) in England. ... The North Downs Line is the name given to the passenger train service connecting Reading, on the Great Western Main Line, to Redhill, on the Brighton Main Line, linking many centres of population in that part of the North Downs which it traverses en route. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Reading station from the station car park at the north (rear) side of the station Reading (formerly Reading General) is a railway station in the large town of Reading in south central England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... It has been suggested that Cornish Main Line be merged into this article or section. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Relief line platforms Fast line platforms and station entrance Station buildings and footbridge Tilehurst railway station is a railway station in the suburb of Tilehurst to the west of Reading in England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Station buildings from access road Platforms; note fast lines passing behind platform 1 Pangbourne railway station is a railway station in the village of Pangbourne in the county of Berkshire in England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Gatehampton Railway Bridge is a railway bridge carrying the main line of the Great Western Railway over the River Thames in Lower Basildon, Berkshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Goring & Streatley railway station is a railway station serving the twin villages of Goring-On-Thames, Oxfordshire, and Streatley, Berkshire, on the boundary between the counties of Berkshire and Oxfordshire in England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Moulsford Railway Bridge Moulsford Railway Bridge lies a little to the north of Moulsford and South Stoke in Oxfordshire, UK. It was built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel between 1838 and 1839, at the same time as he built Maidenhead Railway Bridge and Gatehampton Railway Bridge. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Station buildings; note train at track level Relief line platforms; track to the right is used by Cholsey & Wallingford Railway trains Cholsey railway station is a railway station serving the village of Cholsey in Oxfordshire in England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Didcot Parkway railway station is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Cherwell Valley Line is the railway line from Didcot to Banbury via Oxford. ... A First Great Western Link Network Express Turbo unit at Evesham station on 19th September 2004, with a service for London Paddington. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... 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Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Swindon railway station is a railway station serving the town of Swindon in Wiltshire in England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Golden Valley Line is a railway line from Swindon to Standish Junction, which is just south of Gloucester, UK. Most passenger services continue beyond Gloucester to Cheltenham Spa. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The South Wales Main Line is a branch of the Great Western Main Line. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Chippenham railway station is the railway station serving Chippenham in Wiltshire. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. ... Melksham railway station serves the town of Melksham in Wiltshire, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Box Tunnel is a railway tunnel in western England, between Bath and Chippenham, dug through the Box Hill. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge The River Avon is a river in the south west of England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Hampton Row Halt railway station is a former railway station in Bath, Somerset, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Bath Spa railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Bath, Somerset. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Oldfield Park railway station is a suburban railway station in the city of Bath, BANES. It is located on the London-Bristol and Bristol-Southampton trunk routes. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Keynsham railway station is a railway station serving the town of Keynsham, Somerset. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... 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Bristol Temple Meads railway station is a major rail transport hub in Bristol, England. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Bristol to Taunton Line is a main line railway in England, which links the Great Western Main Line at Bristol to the Reading to Plymouth Line at Taunton. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem No official anthem - the United Kingdom anthem God Save the Queen is commonly used England() â€“ on the European continent() â€“ in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto)1 Unified - by Athelstan 927 AD Area - Total... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Paddington Station, March 2005 during rush hour Paddington station or London Paddington station is a major National Rail and London Underground station complex in the Paddington area of London. ... Bristol Temple Meads railway station is a major rail transport hub in Bristol, England. ... This article is about the English city. ...

It is the original route of the pre-1948 Great Western Railway which was subsequently taken over by the Western Region of British Railways and is now part of the Network Rail system. The original Bristol Temple Meads station, first terminus of the GWR, is the building to the left of this picture The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company, linking South West England, the West Country and South Wales with London. ... British Railways Western Region totem station sign for Chippenham. ... Network Rail is a British not for dividend company limited by guarantee whose principal asset is Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, a company limited by shares. ...

Services

Main line and local services are provided by First Great Western (FGW). The stations served by express trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads are: Slough, Reading, Didcot Parkway, Swindon, Chippenham, and Bath Spa. Not all trains call at all of these stations, especially Slough, Didcot and Chippenham. First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd,[1] a British train operating company owned by First Group, which operates services in the west and south west of England and South Wales. ... Slough railway station is a railway station in the town of Slough, Berkshire, England. ... Reading station from the station car park at the north (rear) side of the station Reading (formerly Reading General) is a railway station in the large town of Reading in south central England. ... Didcot Parkway railway station is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. ... Swindon railway station is a railway station serving the town of Swindon in Wiltshire in England. ... Chippenham railway station is the railway station serving Chippenham in Wiltshire. ... Bath Spa railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Bath, Somerset. ...

Fast trains from Paddington to Heathrow Airport are operated by BAA as the Heathrow Express . Local services on this route are jointly operated by FGW and BAA under the Heathrow Connect name. London Heathrow Airport (IATA airport code: LHR, ICAO airport code: EGLL, and often simply Heathrow) is the United Kingdoms busiest and best-connected airport. ... BAA plc is the owner and operator of seven major United Kingdom airports and operator of several airports worldwide, making the company one of the largest transport companies in the world. ... Heathrow Express is a train service from Heathrow Airport to Paddington in central London operated by the Heathrow Express Operating Authorityâ€”a wholly owned subsidiary of BAA. The service is not part of the National Rail system, despite part of its journey sharing track with National Rail trains and terminating... Heathrow Connect is a train service in London, connecting Heathrow Airport with Paddington station. ...

Virgin Trains operate between Reading and Didcot, and South West Trains operate a limited number of trains between Bath and Bristol. This article needs additional references or sources for verification. ... South West Trains (SWT) is a train operating company operating in the United Kingdom, providing train services to the south-west of London, chiefly in Greater London and the counties of Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset, Devon, Somerset and Wiltshire (the area largely covered before 1923 by the London and South Western...

Infrastructure

The line speed is 125 mph (200 km/h) from London to Wootton Bassett and 100 mph (160 km/h) from there to Bristol, having been upgraded during the 1970s to support the introduction of the Intercity 125 (HST). The relief lines from Paddington to Didcot are currently limited to 90 mph (144 km/h) as far as Airport Junction, 75 mph (120 km/h) from there to Reading, and then 100 mph to Didcot. Lower restrictions apply at various locations. Wootton Bassett is a small market town located west of Swindon in the English county of Wiltshire. ... An InterCity 125 train (often referred to as High Speed Train or HST) is a formation of two Class 43 power cars with a rake of Mark 3 carriages in between. ...

It is one of only two lines in the UK to be equipped with the Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, the other being the Chiltern Main Line. Automatic train protection is speed and distance supervision, usually intervening (usually deploying emergency brake, as a last measure) when the driver of a train omits to react on optical signals given from the wayside system. ... The Chiltern Main Line is a name for the railway line between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill stations. ...

The line is electrified at 25 kV AC overhead between Paddington and Airport Junction, the junction with the line to Heathrow Airport near Hayes. // Railway electrification in Great Britain describes the various electrification systems that are used, or have been used, for supplying traction current to the railways and tramways of Great Britain. ... 25 kV AC is one of the most common voltages used for railway electrification, usually at 50 Hz or 60 Hz depending on that countrys normal mains frequency. ... London Heathrow Airport (IATA airport code: LHR, ICAO airport code: EGLL, and often simply Heathrow) is the United Kingdoms busiest and best-connected airport. ... Hayes and Harlington railway station is a railway station in Hayes and Harlington in the London Borough of Hillingdon. ...

Associated routes

Trains on the Great Western Main Line are sometimes diverted from Reading along the Reading to Plymouth Line as far as Westbury, from where they can use the Wessex Main Line to reach either Chippenham and Swindon, or Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads. Reading station from the station car park at the north (rear) side of the station Reading (formerly Reading General) is a railway station in the large town of Reading in south central England. ... It has been suggested that Cornish Main Line be merged into this article or section. ... Westbury Station is a railway station near the town of Westbury, Wiltshire. ... The Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. ... Chippenham railway station is the railway station serving Chippenham in Wiltshire. ... Swindon railway station is a railway station serving the town of Swindon in Wiltshire in England. ... Bath Spa railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Bath, Somerset. ...

Beyond Bristol, some trains continue on the Bristol to Taunton Line to Weston-super-Mare or beyond. The Bristol to Taunton Line is a main line railway in England, which links the Great Western Main Line at Bristol to the Reading to Plymouth Line at Taunton. ... Weston-super-Mares Victorian railway station Weston-super-Mare railway station serves the town of Weston-super-Mare in North Somerset, England. ...

The Network Rail 2007 Business Plan includes the following routes as part of their Great Western Main Line (Route 13): Network Rail is a British not for dividend company limited by guarantee whose principal asset is Network Rail Infrastructure Limited, a company limited by shares. ...

Didcot Parkway railway station is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. ... Oxford is a mainline railway station serving the city of Oxford, England. ... Worcester Foregate Street railway station is situated in the centre of the city of Worcester, in Worcestershire, England. ... The Cherwell Valley Line is the railway line from Didcot to Banbury via Oxford. ... A First Great Western Link Network Express Turbo unit at Evesham station on 19th September 2004, with a service for London Paddington. ... Cheltenham Spa railway station is a railway station serving the Cotswold town of Cheltenham Spa. ... The Golden Valley Line is a railway line from Swindon to Standish Junction, which is just south of Gloucester, UK. Most passenger services continue beyond Gloucester to Cheltenham Spa. ... Cardiff Central railway station (Welsh: Caerdydd Canolog) is a major railway station in Cardiff and the largest railway station in Wales. ... Swansea railway station serves as the railway station for Swansea in Wales. ... The South Wales Main Line is a branch of the Great Western Main Line. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Birmingham (pron. ...

Future plans

It is planned to extend electrification from Airport Junction to Maidenhead (and possibly Reading) in connection with the Crossrail scheme, however privatisation of the railways has brought rail electrification in Britain to a virtual stop. Maidenhead railway station is a railway station in the town of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. ... For the similar scheme in Glasgow, see Glasgow Crossrail Crossrail is a project to build a new east-west railway connection under central London, with one connection to the west and two to the east. ... Privatization (sometimes privatisation, denationalization, or — especially in India — disinvestment) is the process of transferring property, from public ownership to private ownership. ...

Traffic levels on the Great Western Main Line are rising faster than national average, with continued increases predicted. The now defunct Strategic Rail Authority produced a Route Utilisation Strategy for the Great Western Main Line in 2005 to propose ways of meeting this demand; Network Rail plan to implement a new study in 2008. In the meantime, their 2007 Business Plan highlights the large number of delays that can be reduced by improving the quality of the track, to which end a major renewal programme is underway from bases as Reading and Taunton. Further capacity improvements are also scheduled at Swindon, adding to recent changes and the new Platform 4. Some of the speed restrictions on the relief lines between Reading and London will be raised so that 86% of the line can be used at 90 mph (144 km/h). Categories: Stub ... Reading station from the station car park at the north (rear) side of the station Reading (formerly Reading General) is a railway station in the large town of Reading in south central England. ... Taunton railway station serves Taunton in Somerset, England. ... Swindon railway station is a railway station serving the town of Swindon in Wiltshire in England. ...

Other more distant aspirations include resignalling and capacity improvements at Reading; the provision of four continuous tracks between Didcot and Swindon (including a grade-separated junction at Milton, where the down (westbound) relief line switches from the north side of the line to the south); and resignalling between Bath and Bristol to enable trains to run closer together. Didcot Parkway railway station is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. ... Swindon railway station is a railway station serving the town of Swindon in Wiltshire in England. ... Bath Spa railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Bath, Somerset. ... Bristol Temple Meads railway station is a major rail transport hub in Bristol, England. ...

Route

Communities served: London (including Acton, Ealing, Hanwell) - Southall - Hayes - Harlington - West Drayton - Iver - Slough - Langley - Burnham - Taplow - Maidenhead - Twyford - Reading - Tilehurst - Goring-on-Thames - Streatley - Cholsey - Didcot - Swindon - Chippenham - Bath - Keynsham - Bristol This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Smacton is a place in west London, situated 6. ... Ealing is a town in the London Borough of Ealing. ... Hanwell is a town situated in the London Borough of Ealing in west London, between Ealing and Southall. ... It has been suggested that Southalls South Asian community be merged into this article or section. ... Hayes is a town in the London Borough of Hillingdon. ... Harlington is a place in the London Borough of Hillingdon. ... West Drayton is a place in the London Borough of Hillingdon to the west of central London. ... Iver is located in the south-east corner of the county of Buckinghamshire and it forms one of the largest parishes in the South Bucks district. ... Slough (pronounced ) is a town and unitary authority (Borough of Slough) in Berkshire, England. ... Langley (also known as Langley Marish) is a village in the unitary authority of Slough in the county of Berkshire in the south of England. ... Burnham lies north of the River Thames, and sits on the border with Berkshire, between the towns of Maidenhead and Slough. ... Taplow is a village in Buckinghamshire, England. ... Statistics Population: 58,848 (2001) Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SU889811 Administration District: Windsor and Maidenhead Region: South East England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Berkshire Historic county: Berkshire Services Police force: Thames Valley Ambulance service: South Central Post office and telephone Post town: MAIDENHEAD... Twyford is a small town and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire. ... Reading is a town, unitary authority (the Borough of Reading) and urban area in the English county of Berkshire. ... Tilehurst was originally a village, but is now a large suburb some three miles to the west of Reading in the English county of Berkshire. ... Railway bridge near Goring Goring-on-Thames is a village and civil parish on the River Thames in the English county of Oxfordshire. ... Streatley is a village on the River Thames in the English county of Berkshire. ... Cholsey is a large village in Oxfordshire, two miles from Wallingford. ... Statistics Population: 25,231 Ordnance Survey OS grid reference: SU525900 Administration District: South Oxfordshire Shire county: Oxfordshire Region: South East England Constituent country: England Sovereign state: United Kingdom Other Ceremonial county: Oxfordshire Historic county: Berkshire Services Police force: Thames Valley Police Ambulance: South Central Post office and telephone Post town... , For other places with the same name, see Swindon (disambiguation). ... Chippenham is a market town in Wiltshire, England, located at grid reference ST919733, some 21 km (13 miles) east of Bath and 163 km (96 miles) west of London. ... Bath is a city in Somerset, England most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. ... Keynsham (pronounced CANE-shm), is a town between Bristol and Bath in south west England. ... This article is about the English city. ...

The main line was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and opened in stages by the Great Western Railway between 1838 and 1841. It was originally a 7 ft 0¼ in (2140 mm) broad gauge railway. Evidence of this can be seen at many places where bridges are a little wider than usual, or tracks ten feet apart instead of the usual six. Brunel before the launching of the Great Eastern. ... The original Bristol Temple Meads station, first terminus of the GWR, is the building to the left of this picture The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company, linking South West England, the West Country and South Wales with London. ... Great Western Railway broad gauge steam locomotives awaiting scrapping in 1892 after the conversion to standard gauge. ...

From London to Didcot the line follows the Thames Valley, crossing the River Thames three times, including on the famous Maidenhead Railway Bridge. On this section there are four tracks, grouped by speed with the "relief" lines on the north side of the "main" lines. Most smaller stations only have platforms in use on the relief lines. Didcot Parkway railway station is a railway station serving the town of Didcot in Oxfordshire in England. ... The Thames Valley is generally the region that drains into the River Thames, England, but is used in a more specific term by the government. ... The Thames is a river flowing through southern England, and one of the major waterways in England. ... Maidenhead Railway Bridge is a railway bridge carrying the main line of the Great Western Railway over the River Thames in Maidenhead, Berkshire, England. ...

Didcot is home to the Didcot Railway Centre, a working steam railway museum. Soon after leaving Didcot, trains pass Didcot Power Station, a major source of freight traffic on the route with heavy coal trains running from Avonmouth near Bristol. Between Didcot and Wootton Bassett there are a series of loop lines to allow fast trains to overtake slower ones. This section is also signalled for bi-directional running on each line but this facility is usually only used during engineering working or due to significant disruption to traffic in one direction. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (893x541, 103 KB)The cooling towers of Didcot Power Station taken from a train just outside of Didcot Parkway Station, 22/05/2004 by User:zootalures (Owen Cliffe) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (893x541, 103 KB)The cooling towers of Didcot Power Station taken from a train just outside of Didcot Parkway Station, 22/05/2004 by User:zootalures (Owen Cliffe) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old... Didcot A Power Station Cooling towers (three of), taken from a train on the GWML. The Power Stations from the Berkshire Downs above Rowstock. ... General view, including engine sheds, of part of the site on a cold January day The Didcot Railway Centre, located in the Oxfordshire town of Didcot, is a comprehensive exhibition of Great Western Railway rolling stock. ... Didcot A Power Station Cooling towers (three of), taken from a train on the GWML. The Power Stations from the Berkshire Downs above Rowstock. ... Avonmouth railway station serves the town of Avonmouth in Gloucestershire. ... Wootton Bassett is a small market town located west of Swindon in the English county of Wiltshire. ...

Swindon, the next station, was the centre of the Great Western Railway and is still the headquarters for First Great Western. Leaving the station, trains pass the Swindon railway works on the north side of the line, now home to Steam - the Museum of the Great Western Railway. On the opposite side of the line is the "Railway Village", an area of industrial housing laid out for the employees of the railway workshops and a good example of early social housing. Swindon railway works was built by the Great Western Railway in 1840 in the town of Swindon in the English county of Wiltshire. ... Steam railway trains are hard to make and and put together some times you can get burnt and hurt that why some works make arms and legs for the people ...

At Wootton Bassett the two different routes to Bristol – via Box Tunnel and via Bristol Parkway – allow flexibility. A third arrangement is to run via the Wessex Main Line but this involves a reversal at Bradford Junction so is only really suitable for multiple unit trains. A further diversionary route is available from Reading to Bath via Newbury. Bristol Temple Meads railway station is a major rail transport hub in Bristol, England. ... Box Tunnel is a railway tunnel in western England, between Bath and Chippenham, dug through the Box Hill. ... Bristol Parkway railway station is a railway station on the northern edge of Bristol (England), at Stoke Gifford in South Gloucestershire. ... The Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. ... Reading station from the station car park at the north (rear) side of the station Reading (formerly Reading General) is a railway station in the large town of Reading in south central England. ... Bath Spa railway station is the principal railway station in the city of Bath, Somerset. ... Newbury railway station in 2005. ...

References

Categories: Transport in Berkshire | Transport in Bristol | Transport in Buckinghamshire | Transport in Wiltshire | Rail transport in London | Great Western Main Line The original Bristol Temple Meads station, first terminus of the GWR, is the building to the left of this picture The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company, linking South West England, the West Country and South Wales with London. ... The original Bristol Temple Meads station, first terminus of the GWR, is the building to the left of this picture The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company, linking South West England, the West Country and South Wales with London. ... // High-speed main line See also: Template:British main lines Channel Tunnel Rail Link Classic main lines See also: Template:British main lines Cross-Country Route East Coast Main Line Great Eastern Main Line Great Western Main Line Midland Main Line West Coast Main Line Railway lines in England London... â€œCTRLâ€ redirects here. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The East Coast Main Line viaduct at Durham. ... The Great Eastern Main Line, or the G.E., is a major railway line of the British railway system, which connects Liverpool Street station in the City of London with destinations in east London and the East of England; including Ipswich, Norwich and several coastal resorts. ... The Midland Main Line is a main railway line in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. ... The WCML running alongside the M1 motorway at Watford Gap in Northamptonshire A Virgin Pendolino and freight train on the WCML The West Coast Main Line (WCML) is one of the most important intercity railway lines in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system. ... // High-speed main line See also: Template:British main lines Channel Tunnel Rail Link Classic main lines See also: Template:British main lines Cross-Country Route East Coast Main Line Great Eastern Main Line Great Western Main Line Midland Main Line West Coast Main Line Railway lines in England London... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The Bristol to Taunton Line is a main line railway in England, which links the Great Western Main Line at Bristol to the Reading to Plymouth Line at Taunton. ... The Cherwell Valley Line is the railway line from Didcot to Banbury via Oxford. ... The Royal Albert Bridge The Cornish Main Line is a railway line in England, which forms the backbone for rail service in Cornwall, as well as prodiving a direct line to London. ... The Gloucester to Newport Line is a railway cutoff along the bank of the River Severn in the United Kingdom from Gloucester to Newport. ... It has been suggested that Cornish Main Line be merged into this article or section. ... The South Wales Main Line is a branch of the Great Western Main Line. ... The Wessex Main Line is the railway line from Bristol Temple Meads to Southampton. ... The West of England Main Line is the British railway line from London Waterloo to Exeter. ... The Greenford branch line is a 2Â¾ mile (4. ... The Severn Beach Line is a local railway in Bristol, UK, running from Narroways Junction to Severn Beach. ... The Slough to Windsor & Eton Branch Line is a small railway line from the Great Western Main Line at Slough to Windsor and Eton, Berkshire in Berkshire, England. ... The Tarka Line is a railway line from Exeter to Barnstaple in Devon, UK. There is also a branch to Okehampton, which has recently reopened to passenger trains. ... The Avocet Line is the railway line from Exeter to Exmouth, UK. The line follows the River Exe for most of its route, giving views of the estuary. ... The Golden Valley Line is a railway line from Swindon to Standish Junction, which is just south of Gloucester, UK. Most passenger services continue beyond Gloucester to Cheltenham Spa. ... Heart of Wessex Line branding on a Class 31 locomotive The Heart of Wessex Line is a United Kingdom railway line that runs from Bristol to Westbury to Weymouth. ... The Henley Banch Line is a small railway line between Twyford in Berkshire, England and Henley-on-Thames in Oxfordshire. ... The Looe Valley Line is a railway line from Liskeard to Looe in Cornwall, UK. The line follows the shores of the River Looe for much of its course. ... The Marlow Branch Line is a small railway line between Maidenhead in Berkshire, England and Marlow in Buckinghamshire. ... The Atlantic Coast Line is a railway line from Par, near St. ... The Riviera Line is the railway line from Exeter to the English Riviera resorts of Torquay and Paignton. ... The St Ives Bay Line is a railway line from St Erth to St Ives in Cornwall. ... The Tamar Valley Line is a railway line from Devonport in Plymouth Devon, to Gunnislake in Cornwall, England. ... The Maritime Line is a railway line from Truro to Falmouth in Cornwall, UK. The line travels close to the River Fal for some of its length. ...

Contents

Infrastructure

Associated routes

Future plans

Route

References