Great Western Railway to see major timetable expansion

From Sunday, May 17, the new timetable will introduce additional services and new stations across the South West and Wales, including the first phase of the Mid-Cornwall Metro and new overnight trains to Gatwick Airport.

The changes are part of GWR’s plan to boost economic growth, improve connectivity and reach a milestone of 200 stations served.

Mark Hopwood, managing director of Great Western Railway, said: “Rail is one of the most powerful tools we have for driving economic growth – connecting people to jobs, businesses to markets, and communities to opportunity.

“This new timetable is a statement of intent: we are committed to making our railway work harder for the communities we serve, not just as a way of getting around, but as a genuine engine of local and regional prosperity.

“From the first trains of the Mid-Cornwall Metro to our 200th station, this is a milestone moment for GWR, and we are proud to be delivering it.”

The Mid-Cornwall Metro will begin with an hourly direct service between Par and Newquay, using Class 175 trains and benefiting from rail infrastructure improvements by Network Rail.

Newquay, a key tourism destination, will also see the launch of daily direct services from London.

Elsewhere in the South West, the summer opening of Okehampton Interchange on the Dartmoor Line will deliver a new 200-space car park and improved rail access for west Devon.

Okehampton Interchange will become GWR’s 200th station, following recent additions including Marsh Barton, Reading Green Park, and Portway Park and Ride.

The company also plans to open four more stations over the next two to three years: Bristol Brabazon, Charfield, Portishead, and Pill.

The new timetable includes overnight services between Reading and Gatwick Airport, offering a ‘sustainable alternative’ to long road journeys for early morning and late-night flights.

GWR said this connection will help open the South West and Thames Valley to new business, tourism, and inward investment.

The company expects one of its busiest ever summer seasons, with thousands of tourists, festival-goers, and sports fans travelling across the network.

The expansion is supported by research showing that improved rail connectivity across the South West could help create 238,000 jobs and generate £14.25 billion by 2035.

New stations such as Okehampton Interchange and Marsh Barton are projected to support 1,500 permanent jobs and contribute £112 million per year over the next decade.

The improvements, GWR said, underscore the essential role of rail in making events and destinations accessible, sustainable, and economically beneficial for host communities.