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Slough and Windsor by train

We've bought tickets for a train from Oxford to Paddington, and now have learned that our tour rendezvous will be in Windsor instead of London. Since we got very cheap tickets, we think the best strategy will be to take the train as planned but get off at Slough, and buy tickets on the short spur line to Windsor & Eton Central (WNC). We'd also like to visit Windsor Castle before getting a taxi to the hotel a few miles west of Windsor, if we can drop our bags at or near the station. So my questions are:

(1) Any problem likely in getting off at Slough rather than going on to Paddington? Should we tell the train conductor about this? Look for or avoid any particular cars on the train?

(2) How do you pronounce Slough anyway? To rhyme with cow, to rhyme with loo, to rhyme with doe, or (God forbid) to rhyme with gruff? Is there another possibility (this is Britain, after all). ;-)

(3) Does anyone know if there are lockers or a left-luggage facility at or near WNC station? The National Rail website doesn't say yes, and it doesn't say no, leaves the category blank.

Help is much appreciated, as always.

Posted by
8889 posts

(1) Does your train from Oxford stop at Slough? It may not. You need to look at the national rail site and find the stops for your train.
If not, it probably stops at Reading (a much bigger place), so you can change there and get a "stopping train" which will stop at Slough and change again at Slough for Windsor.
Not sure what good talking to the conductor would do, he can't order extra stops for a train. Your ticket may well include a reserved seat, in which case it is best to sit there.
If your ticket is only valid on that train, and you have to change at Reading, then you need to get a new ticket from Reading via Slough to Windsor. You can buy it at Oxford before you get on the first train, explain your problem and they will sell you a ticket.
If your ticket is valid on any train, then you are legal to Slough.

(2) Slough rhymes with cow and plough. Reading rhymes with heading. They are both in Berkshire, which is pronounced Barksha.
(3) If it doesn't say there are any lockers, then their won't be. Lockers are rare in the UK. Big stations sometimes have manned luggage places, but only very big stations.

Posted by
32514 posts

You don't have to say anything to the Conductor or Train Manager or Guard (similar jobs, different line on the name badge); they would be very surprised if you do.

Hopping off early is a good plan, just be sure that you are on the actual train named on your Advance ticket, because it is worthless on any other service. If you have snagged a really cheap ticket from Oxford to Paddington it is highly likely that it is an "Advance". They can't be refunded, and if you change it (must be done before you board) there will be be very high charges so it is effectively non refundable.

You do need to be sure that the train you are booked on stops at Slough (cow). If you hop off at Reading (sounds like red-ing) you will need a valid ticket from Reading to WNC.

If the National Rail station information page for the station doesn't mention Left Luggage, there isn't one. Ever since the terrorism of the the troubles there have not been lockers, and that's why all the rubbish bags on stations (only fairly recently reinstated) are clear.

Posted by
5310 posts

If you have an Advance type ticket to Paddington ,you are not supposed under the terms of this ticket to break your journey en-route or stop short:

"BREAK OF JOURNEY:
Customers may not start, break and resume, or end their journey at any intermediate station except to change to/from connecting trains as shown on the ticket(s)."

Advance tickets from Oxford are cheap because they are competing with the frequent coach service to London.

Posted by
2773 posts

It's only a five minute train ride from Slough to Windsor.

Posted by
6428 posts

Thanks, kindly Brits, for news of Slough.
I understand much better now.
You took away my furrowed brow.

Yes, they are advance tickets, so effectively non-refundable.

I've learned that Windsor Castle holds luggage (after screening) for visitors, so that problem is solved. We wanted to leave it somewhere while visiting the castle, and where better than at the castle?

We're getting excited about departing in a few days. Special thanks to Keith, who has provided a little rhyme that will rattle around in my head throughout our time in Barksha, and perhaps much longer. ;-)

Posted by
5310 posts

Sir John Betjeman supposedly regretted writing that poem and tried to stop it being published in the first place.

Posted by
6428 posts

Sadly for Sir John, the poem will now rattle around in the RS Travel Forum, electronically preserved for all eternity. Sadly for Slough too, I suppose.

Posted by
8889 posts

The poem has been rattling around for a long time, since 1937!
The poem has made Slough the stereotype for an ugly, bland light industry town. If you ever saw the TV series "the Office", it was set in Slough because of the stereotype.
The poem is already preserved enough, it has a Wikipedia page, a You tube version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0gZ6e642Yc
Full poem: http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/bigread/bigread_betjeman.shtml