A speed restriction over defective track near Hayes & Harlington is causing significant disruption to services between Reading / Heathrow Terminal 5 and London Paddington. Fewer trains are currently able to pass through the affected section of track, resulting in cancellations, delays and alterations to journeys.

Services operated by Great Western Railway, Elizabeth line and Heathrow Express may be impacted, with passengers advised to check their journey before travelling. Disruption is expected to continue until the end of the day.

Customers are being urged to allow extra time, use alternative services where available, and monitor live travel updates for the latest information.

The following alterations will apply:

• Local stopping services between Newbury / Didcot Parkway and London Paddington will only run between Newbury / Didcot Parkway and Reading

• Great Western Railway services from London Paddington which terminate at Oxford will be cancelled (trains from London Paddington to Worcester / Great Malvern / Hereford via Oxford will continue to run).

• Most of the longer distance Intercity services will continue to run between Reading and London Paddington, but may be subject to delay

• Heathrow Express will run a half hourly service all day.

To assist you with your journey, you can use your ticket on the following services in both directions, at no extra cost:

• Elizabeth line services between London Paddington and Reading, which call at Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford

• Chiltern Railways between Oxford and London Marylebone

• London Underground between London Paddington and London Marylebone

• CrossCountry services between Oxford and Reading

Any of the above can change at short notice. Always check with your operator before travelling.

Image: Great Western Railway