Early Morning Train Win for Thatcham Commuters

One of the best parts of my job is being able to turn local concerns into action, and I’m really pleased to share a small but meaningful victory for Thatcham commuters.

I’ve been contacted by constituents about the regular cancellation of the 5.54am train from Thatcham to London. It’s an important service for early starters, but due to engineering works and operational decisions, it’s been dropped from the timetable far too often, leaving passengers stranded and late for work or appointments.

One determined resident had already tried contacting GWR, Network Rail, the Rail Ombudsman, and Transport Focus, but got nowhere. That’s when he reached out to me, and I took the matter up directly with GWR and Network Rail to get to the bottom of it.

To their credit, they listened. They explained that the cancellations were down to routine engineering access and that a straightforward fix wasn’t possible, but after some pushing, GWR’s planning team agreed to explore alternatives.

I’m pleased to say they’ve now confirmed that, starting next week, they’re trialling a new 5.31am train from Bedwyn which will stop at Thatcham at 5.54am. It connects to a GWR service at Reading, giving commuters a reliable early route to London Paddington.

For the people who rely on that train to get to work on time, this is a win. If you use this service, or know someone who does, please do give it a try and share your feedback. The more people who use it, the greater chance we have of making this trial a permanent fixture.