We will be taking the train from Windsor & Eton Central to Bath this summer. We change trains at Slough, and it is a 6 minute change. Please keep in mind that we have never taken the train before. Is a 6 minute change reasonable for 2 people who have never changed trains before and who will have carry ons with them? We are not aware of how large the station at Slough is, so maybe this is reasonable. If we don't want to chance it, would we be able to purchase the tickets from Slough to Bath in advance, and then just purchase a ticket from Windsor to Slough in the station on that day, but further ahead of time so we can have more than 6 minutes to change? I am assuming we could just walk in to the station at Windsor and purchase a ticket to Slough on the spot. Correct? Would the price be higher for the Windsor to Slough route since we would purchase tickets on the day of travel rather than advance? Thanks for your help!
Posted by
Tresana, Highlands Ranch, CO, USA
23642 posts
It is a small station. You will be fine. You may just walk from one side of the platform to the other as is typical in small stations.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
It is a very small station. We have done a 3 min. change where we had to cross the overhead bridge- and had no problems. I think there are only 3 or 4 platforms, total.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33994 posts
The shuttle train runs all the time and the tickets on it are not time linked. If the 6 minute connection bothers you - although it is usually just a cross platform change - take the prior shuttle train. They are very frequent.
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2805 posts
You will be fine, you just over to go over to the other platform. I’ve done it many times. Windsor is great. It’s only a five minute train ride from Slough to Windsor. When you get to Windsor turn left when you exit the train, then walk straight up and you will see the castle.
Posted by
Bristol, UK
619 posts
Travelling Windsor to Bath will generally require two changes, one at Slough and one at Reading. Reading is a much larger station, so changing there may take longer and be more difficult with baggage. I would advise you to check the whole journey and the various connection times before you order the tickets.
Ordering tickets in advance for longer journeys will save you money, but the timetables are liable to change frequently at present, because of the programme of electrification and new trains. Depending on what you mean by "this summer", I should wait until 6-8 weeks in advance before finalising your plans. Booking too early can lock you in to trains that don't really suit your needs.
Posted by
38 posts
You are supposed to buy ONE ticket for the journey from Windsor to Bath. Changing trains does not mean a separate ticket for each train. This journey will be cheaper if you book in advance on nationalrail.co.uk and commit to the date and time.
Posted by
New York, NY
4071 posts
As you are concerned about the 6 minute transfer time especially if your inbound is late, buy a through ticket directly to Bath and pick an itinerary with as much cushion time as you like in Slough. FYI - avoid traveling on a Sunday because diversions/delays are more likely due to construction projects.
Posted by
Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4088 posts
You can check the GWR website travel alerts the day before your trip to see if delays are anticipated.
https://www.gwr.com/plan-journey/stations-and-routes/slough
Here is the Slough station; click on the Map button to see the tracks and platforms
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/SLO.aspx
Posted by
Troy, Oh, USA
2805 posts
I’ve taken the train to Windsor many times, never had a worry about missing the training Slough, and never did miss the train. I’m sure you will be fine, but if something happens and you miss it, take a taxi from Slough it’s only 3 miles to Windsor.
Posted by
Glostrup, Denmark
1394 posts
Note that the schedules on http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/ include the arriving and departing platform (actually a track, i.e. one side of the platform). I don't know when you are traveling but one trip I looked at had the train arriving on platform 1 in Slough and the other leaving from platform 2 five minutes later. Check for the departure date and time you want.
The station map mentioned by a previous poster clearly shows that platform 1 and 2 are close (I would say appx. 6 steps across the platform)
I couldn't find any trip where you didn't have to change at Reading too, but then I couldn't see anything after mid March.
In Reading the situation is a little bit more complex since they have platform 8a and 8b, which is just the two ends of the same platform. (I was rather confused the first time I experienced that, which was on Birmingham New Street). Be sure to check which end your train is leaving from. The display boards will tell you.
PS. One thing I have found useful is to note where the train ends, because that is displayed on the platform information boards. E.g. the schedule says: "Great Western Railway service from London Paddington to Hereford ".