Paddington(PAD)
Minor disruption
Trains between Bridgend and Cardiff Central may be cancelled, delayed by up to 20 minutes or revised. More details and the full impact to your journey can be found in Status and Disruptions.
About Paddington
Paddington station is one of London’s main rail hubs and has been the terminus of services from the west since 1838. The current station, much of which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1854, remains a working example of Victorian railway architecture. In the year ending March 2024, it was the second busiest station in Britain, with around 66.9 million entries and exits.
The station is the London terminus of the Great Western Main Line. Great Western Railway runs commuter, regional, and long-distance services from here, linking London with the Thames Valley, South West England, and South Wales. It is also the eastern terminus of Heathrow Express and a key stop on the Elizabeth Line, which connects Paddington with Heathrow, Reading, Abbey Wood, and Shenfield. The complex includes two Underground stations serving the Bakerloo, Circle, District, and Hammersmith & City lines, making it one of the best-connected parts of the capital.
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History
London Paddington started as a temporary terminus in 1838, serving westbound trains from London. In 1854, Isambard Kingdom Brunel completed the permanent station, which featured a broad iron and glass roof inspired by the Crystal Palace. His design gave the station its scale and light, and much of that structure still stands today.
As rail traffic grew, the station expanded in the early 1900s. A new span—called “Span 4”—was added between 1913 and 1916 to make room for more platforms. In the 1990s, the original glass roof was replaced with modern glazing and trimmed to maintain the old look while improving durability.
In recent years, Paddington has seen significant upgrades around and above the station. Network Rail refreshed “The Lawn” retail area and restored the Edwardian roof span. A major development called Paddington Square—completed in 2024—added new public spaces, modern buildings, and a larger ticket hall. All the changes aim to handle more passengers while keeping the station’s historic feel.
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