There are a few types of tickets sold on National Rail, with the usual ones that I’ve been using allowing flexibility in which train you take and the routing you may so choose. However, certain tickets if bought in advance actually go at a discounted rate with added restrictions such as being non-refundable and only valid on the stated train. With a GWR Advance Single fare of £5.95 available on my journey a few days before departure, I took it up since I would be heading from Oxford to London at around that same time anyway.
Heading into Oxford Railway Station.
Collecting my ticket from the ticket machine.
Two coupons are issued, one for my actual ticket combined with the seat reservation ticket and another collection receipt.
My GWR Advance Single ticket from Oxford to London Paddington, only valid on the specified train.
My train would be departing from Platform 3.
Heading to the platform.
My train was already at the platform around 10 minutes before departure.
Looks like it’s good service all around today. A good day to go to London.
Heading to the front of the train for a nice picture.
GWR 800026 Don Cameron taking me to London Paddington today.
Unfortunately I couldn’t get any further or else I would be “See It. Say It. Sorted.”.
Boarding my 11:01 to London Paddington.
The interior of the GWR Class 800 IET.
I changed to a forward-facing pair of seats instead since it was unreserved.
The legroom on the GWR Class 800 IET.
My initial reserved seat 64, supposedly facing forward (“F”) but it turned out to be in reverse instead.
The tray table has an extending arm to place laptops on it.
Heading on towards Didcot Parkway and Reading.
Passing by Reading Train Care Depot.
Hmm, provisions for a future line extension?
More GWR trains at Reading Train Care Depot.
Making a brief stop at Reading.
Passing by a CrossCountry train.
Making a brief stop at Reading.
Someone reserved a seat here from Reading to Slough.
The train started to fill up here at Reading.
A refreshment trolley came around as the train departed.
Heading on to Slough.
A TfL Rail Class 345 Aventra somewhere near Reading.
Making a brief stop at Slough.
Passing by Airport Junction.
Passing by Hayes & Harlington.
Lots of TfL Rail trains from here on.
Passing by Southall.
Passing by a GWR Class 387 Electrostar.
Passing by a TfL Rail Siemens Desiro Class 360/2.
Passing by a Central Line 1992 Stock after Ealing Broadway.
A DB Schenker freight train stabling along the line.
Passing by TfL Rail Old Oak Common Depot.
Passing under the Overground line.
Passing by Tower Transit’s Westbourne Park Garage, an elevated bus garage above the railway tracks.
Passing by the Crossrail Royal Oak Portal.
Passing by Royal Oak Underground station.
Arriving at London Paddington Railway Station.
Lots of Class 800 IETs here.
Disembarking from 800026.
And hello London Paddington again.
No more cast nameplates for the new Class 800s, only stickers.
Looking back at 800026 Don Cameron.
The Class 800 IETs are the new staple at London Paddington.
Exiting through the ticket barriers.
To continue my journey into the city, I headed down for the Bakerloo Line as the District and Circle Lines were closed.
The Bakerloo Line platform at Paddington.
My incoming London Underground 1972 Stock Bakerloo Line train arriving at Paddington.
The interior of the London Underground 1972 Stock Bakerloo Line train.
Overall, a cheap and comfortable ride on the GWR Class 800 IETs, with the Advance Single fare comparable to a bus ride but at half the travel time. If you have a fixed itinerary, Advance Single fares are pretty worth it to secure your seat early.
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