Operators & Timetables
Essential info about the rail companies operating in the West of England.
Great Western Railway
Network
An extensive network of high-speed trains from London Paddington and branch-line trains serving the South West.
- High-speed and local routes connect Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Weston-super-Mare and Bath Spa and all the local stations in between
- Direct services to – London Paddington, Gatwick airport (via Reading), and Portsmouth Harbour
- All the railway stations in this area are managed by them
Timetables
Local timetables are listed below. You may access up to date timetables on the GWR’s website.
| Timetable | Route |
|---|---|
| B1 | Cardiff and Bristol to Bath Spa, Westbury, Salisbury, Southampton and Portsmouth. |
| B3 | Bristol to Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, Worcester and Great Malvern |
| B4 | Cardiff and Bristol to Weston-super-Mare and Taunton |
| B6 | Bristol Temple Meads to Bristol Parkway (summary) |
| B8 | Bristol Temple Meads to Severn Beach, Filton Abbey Wood, Patchway, Bristol Parkway and Yate (stopping services) |
| B9 | Severn Beach and Avonmouth to Bristol Temple Meads and Weston-super-Mare (The Severn Beach line) |
| B10 | Bristol, Bath and Westbury to Yeovil and Weymouth (The Heart of Wessex line) |
| BL | London, Reading and Swindon to Bath, Bristol and Weston-super-Mare |
| CL | All GWR services running to and from South Wales |
| D | London, Bristol and Taunton to Exeter, Torbay and Plymouth |
Tickets
Tickets may be purchased online from the GWR or National Rail websites, or by calling 0345 7000 125.
- Search, buy and store advance tickets on your mobile device
- Get live departure/arrival times and platform info on the move
Taking your bike
Bicycles travel for free in designated areas.
- 6 spaces available on high-speed trains and 2 spaces on branch line trains
- Reserve your space at least 24 hours in advance
- Make your reservation when you book your ticket on the GWR website or by calling 0345 7000 125 (option2)
CrossCountry Trains
Network
A high speed train network with South West routes includes Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, Weston-super-Mare stations. Direct services to Birmingham International, Stansted and Southampton airports, via Birmingham New Street.
Timetables
Three services operate on the South West route – the latest CrossCountry pocket timetables may be accessed on their website.
- Scotland, the North East to the South West and South Coast
- Nottingham and Derby to Bristol and Cardiff
- Manchester to the South West and South Coast
Tickets
CrossCountry sell multi-operator tickets and do not charge a booking fee.
Taking your bike
Bicycles travel for free in a designated area of the train – as space is limited, it’s best to make a reservation in advance by calling 0844 811 0124.
- Most trains have two reservable bike spaces and one further space for unreserved bikes
- Reservations are accepted on a ‘first come- first served’ basis
- Folding bikes may be carried as normal hand luggage
- Tandems, tricycles, bike trailers, motorbikes, scooters, mopeds or motorised bikes are not accepted
Page last checked: 28/05/2026
