Trains between Reading and London Paddington were suspended on Monday morning after emergency services responded to an incident in which a person was struck by a train, leaving services from Swindon into the capital cancelled or heavily delayed.
What happened
Great Western Railway (GWR) said the incident occurred on the line between Reading and London Paddington, affecting services calling at Twyford and those operating from Swindon towards the capital. At least three Swindon–Paddington services were cancelled and others experienced significant lateness.
In a service update, GWR warned that no trains were able to run between Reading and London until further notice, and initial disruption was expected to last until around 10:00. Passengers were advised to check journeys and expect delays of up to an hour where services were running.
Advice to passengers
GWR told affected travellers they could use alternative operators — including South Western Railway — without paying extra, and staff at stations were on hand to assist customers disrupted by the incident.
- Check live travel updates on the GWR website or app before travelling.
- Allow extra time for journeys into London Paddington until services have resumed.
- Seek station staff or call customer services if you require assistance or are onboard an affected service.
Support and safety information
The operator emphasised the availability of emotional support for anyone affected by the incident and provided a helpline number for those who might be distressed.
“If you are onboard one of the services in this incident and have been affected by this incident or know someone else who needs support, there is always someone to talk to. Contact a Samaritan on 116 123 for free, any time, on any phone. Help is only a phone call away.”
The company also said emergency services were in attendance while the incident was dealt with and that lines were blocked during their response.
Local impact — from platform to commuter
At smaller stations such as Twyford and at larger hubs including Reading, disruption has a knock-on effect across the network. Commuters I spoke to at Reading this morning described packed concourses and long lines at ticket machines.
“My train was cancelled with no clear time for when the next one will come,” said one passenger waiting on the concourse. “There’s a lot of uncertainty. People are trying to work out alternatives to get to London.”
Station staff were advising customers to consider later departures where possible and to keep an eye on station display boards and the GWR app.
Service snapshot
| Route | Initial impact |
|---|---|
| Swindon – London Paddington | At least three cancellations; further delays |
| Reading – London Paddington | Lines blocked while emergency services attended |
Network Rail and the ambulance service were approached for comment on the scale of the incident and expected clear-up times; GWR supplied the operational update quoted above.
What commuters should do now
If you are due to travel into London Paddington this morning:
- Check the live departure boards and GWR travel alerts before leaving home.
- Consider alternative routes into London (for example via South Western Railway where permitted by GWR).
- If you are distressed or need support because of the incident, contact the Samaritans on 116 123.
I will update this report as the operator releases further information and services resume. For now, travel into Paddington from the west remains severely affected while emergency services complete their work on the line.
Reporting from Reading, the scene remains under the control of emergency responders; many commuters will face a longer and uncertain journey into the capital today.
