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Hello Everyone, This is my first posting.  My daughter may soon be attending a Secondary School in Ealing and will need to get the train from Paddington to Ealing B.  I heard it rumoured that this train may stop at Westbourne Park again.  Is this true?  This would be perfect for her if it is.  I would be really interested to hear if there a campaign to re-open the Westbourne Park station.  Looking forward to hearing from someone.  Many thanks

Welcome to the forum, annina.

I'm afraid there are no plans to re-open Westbourne Park station to the National Rail network. The remodelled track layout that led to its closure prohibits any re-opening. The Crossrail link will come up to the surface at a point between Royal Oak and Westbourne Park stations but there are no plans for a station there as it is too close to the site of the new Paddington Crossrail station. In any case that won't be in operation until after your daughter has left school!

There was a post elsewhere about Crossrail which implied there would be a station there for terminating trains. There will indeed be sidings there so yes they will terminate at WP. and a platform for anyone who doesn't get off at Paddington (!), but no station.

John 

Just amplifires what I've said previously Crossrail doesn't work West of Padd. Hence the need for a platform near Royal Oak for people who don't get off a terminating train at Paddington. i believe they are put on the next train back. As this will be 14 out of 24 trains per hour this paltfrom will probably see a lot of use.

Thank you for your replies.  It is disappointing news!  In deciding whether to apply to the Ealing school/s, I have to take into account the journey to get there.  I would appreciate some feedback from travellers on what it is like to travel from Paddington to Ealing B/W at around 8 am each weekday, and returning 4-5pm.  Are there lots of school children travelling?  Are they well behaved?  Is the service fairly reliable? etc.  Your comments would be appreciated.  Many thanks.

Paddington - Ealing Broadway has a service about every 10-15 minutes, sometimes closer together. Service is usually good.

The service is pretty reliable and quick. There's not a noticeable amount of school children travelling when compared with some other services in the area - notably trains in/out of Maidenhead and Drayton Green. Your daughter should have no problems getting a seat travelling against the rush-hour flow though trains would not be empty.

Agree Padd to Ealing would be OK.

Hammersmiths from Westbourne Park to Padd are usually full and standing in the peak, but not packed unless there are problems but it's only five minutes. She might also encounter problems getting off 16 if a mainline train has just arrived with people rushing to get the train. But if she waits for teh rush to die down it's OK. Many of her trains to Ealing will leave from 13/14 so right next door.