After about a week of holidays, it’s time to depart from Central London for the last time for this holiday. Great city, and I hope to be back again once the Elizabeth Line opens for real operations through Central London. Heading back to Oxford, I decided to get the Great Western Railway service as I haven’t done the westbound journey yet, and it was faster to use the GWR than Chiltern Railways which I have learnt through experience already.
Getting on the Bakerloo Line to London Paddington.
This is interesting, I didn’t know transverse seats are available on deep-level Underground trains. The Bakerloo Line rolling stock has these in the cab cars.
Disembarking from my last Tube ride on this trip.
Heading up out to London Paddington Railway Station.
The next trains out of Paddington National Rail are displayed at the Tube station concourse too.
Heading out of the Tube station.
The station concourse of London Paddington at night.
Checking for my platform at the information desk.
My train will be departing from Platform 3 as the train to Worcester Shrub Hill.
Heading through the open ticket barriers to Platform 3.
My 21:43 GWR service to Oxford and onwards to Worcester Shrub Hill.
Despite needing to quickly catch the train to Oxford, this caught my eye first. British Rail Class 57 57604 “Pendennis Castle” tails the Night Riviera bound for Penzance this evening.
The cast name plate of 57604 “Pendennis Castle” with the GWR coat of arms.
The Night Riviera operates with refurbished British Rail Mark 3 passenger coaches just recently introduced in 2018.
The coaches towards the rear of the train heading for Penzance are sleeper coaches, classified as Night Riviera Sleepers.
The lounge car is located at Coach C, available for all Night Riviera passengers to purchase snacks and drinks, but only Sleeper passengers are allowed to lounge in the lounge car. Seat passengers can only purchase items from the bar counter and take it back to their seats.
The interior of the Night Riviera lounge car from the opposite platform.
Unfortunately I’m not booked on the Night Riviera. Boarding my actual GWR Class 800 IET for Oxford instead.
The interior of the GWR Class 800 IET. The train wasn’t crowded this evening.
I picked a table seat this time for more space to stretch out and place my stuff around.
Power sockets are located between each pair of seats.
The train information of the 21:43 bound for Worcester Shrub Hill.
The many stops along the way to Worcester Shrub Hill at Slough, Reading, Didcot Parkway, Oxford, Hanborough, Charlbury, Kingham, Moreton-in-Marsh, Evesham, Pershore, Worcester Shrub Hill.
My ticket for the journey back to Oxford.
Getting dispatched right on time.
Departing from London Paddington for the last time on this trip.
Making a brief stop at Slough.
Making a brief stop at Reading.
My train is on time so far.
Making a brief stop at Didcot Parkway.
Impressive.
Is it just me or do the toilets on board the Class 800 IETs look like the ones at McDonald’s?
The interior of the on-board toilet on the Class 800 IET.
The linear sink design in the on-board toilet.
The rather empty coach as the train enters Oxford.
Getting ready to disembark at Oxford. Push the button the open doors.
Disembarking at Oxford from the on-time train.
The journey from London Paddington to Oxford took 1 hour and 17 minutes. Hmm, seems a bit longer than Chiltern, but the IET is a lot more comfortable to travel in.
The train makes a scheduled stop at Oxford for 3 minutes.
The last train to Didcot Parkway is replaced by a bus today.
Crossing over to the main side of the station via the overhead bridge.
Looking back at the IET before it heads off to Worcester Shrub Hill.
Heading out via Platform 1.
Exiting through the open ticket gates.
Heading out of the station.
An information display about the new IETs at Oxford.
Exiting Oxford Railway Station.
Overall, a great comfortable ride on GWR with an almost empty train. I’ll miss getting on such frequent intercity services with an open ticket once I get back to ASEAN.