View source for London Paddington station

{{short description|Railway station in London}}
{{good article}}
{{EngvarB|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox London station
|name = Paddington
|alt_name = London Paddington
|manager = [[Network Rail]]
|symbol=rail
|symbol2 = elizabeth
|symbol3 = underground
|symbol4 = heathrowexpress
|owner = [[Network Rail]]
|locale = [[Paddington]]
|borough = [[City of Westminster]]
|platforms = 15<!-- 1-12, 14, A, B -->
|access = Yes
|access_note = <ref>{{citation step free south east rail}}</ref>
|fare_zone = 1
|railcode = PAD
|railcode1        = QQP ([[IATA airport code|IATA]])
|dft_category = A
|image_name = Paddington Station GWR.jpg
|image_alt =
|caption = The Victorian train shed at Paddington in October 2018
|coordinates = {{coord|51.5173|-0.1774|type:railwaystation_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
|map_type = Central London
|years1 = 4 June 1838
|years2 = 29 May 1854
|years3 = 24 May 2022
|events1 = Temporary station opened
|events2 = Permanent station opened
|events3 = Elizabeth line opened
|cyclepark = Yes
|toilets = Yes
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|original = [[Great Western Railway]]
|interchange = [[Paddington tube station (Bakerloo, Circle and District lines)|Paddington Bakerloo, Circle and District lines station]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
|interchange1 = [[Paddington tube station (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines)|Paddington Circle and Hammersmith & City lines station]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
|interchange2 = [[Marylebone station|Marylebone]] {{rail-interchange|london|rail}}
|interchange3 = [[Lancaster Gate tube station|Lancaster Gate]] {{rail-interchange|london|underground}}
|interchange_note = <ref name="ReferenceA">{{Citation London station interchange May 2022}}</ref>
}}
'''Paddington''', also known as '''London Paddington''', is a [[London station group|London railway station]] and [[London Underground]] station complex, located on [[Praed Street]] in the [[Paddington]] area. The site has been the London terminus of services provided by the [[Great Western Railway]] and its successors since 1838. Much of the main line station dates from 1854 and was designed by [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]. As of the 2022–23 Office of Rail & Road Statistics, it is the second busiest station in the United Kingdom, after [[Liverpool Street station|London Liverpool Street]], with 59.2 million entries and exits.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/axnd1tyj/station-usage-2022-23-statistical-release.pdf|title=Office of Rail & Road Statistics 2022–23|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>

Paddington is the London terminus of the [[Great Western Main Line]]; passenger services are primarily operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]], which provides commuter and regional passenger services to west London and the [[Thames Valley]] region, as well as long-distance intercity services to [[South West England]] and [[South Wales]]. The station is also the eastern terminus for [[Heathrow Express]] and the western terminus for [[Elizabeth line]] services from [[Shenfield railway station|Shenfield]]. [[Elizabeth line]] services also run through Paddington westwards to [[Reading railway station|Reading]], [[Heathrow Terminal 5 station|Heathrow Terminal 5]], and [[Heathrow Terminal 4 railway station|Heathrow Terminal 4]], and eastwards to [[Abbey Wood railway station|Abbey Wood]].<ref name="opening-es">{{cite news |last1=Lydall |first1=Ross |title=Crossrail opening date finally announced |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/crossrail-elizabeth-line-opening-date-announced-may-24-london-tube-tfl-transport-for-london-b997837.html |work=Evening Standard |date=4 May 2022 |location= London}}</ref> Situated in [[List of stations in London fare zone 1|fare zone 1]], it has two separate tube stations providing connections to the [[Bakerloo line|Bakerloo]], [[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle]], [[District line|District]], and [[Hammersmith & City line]]s. It is one of 11 London stations managed directly by [[Network Rail]].

The station has been perennially popular for passengers and goods, particularly milk and parcels. Major upgrades took place in the 1870s, the 1910s and the 1960s, each trying to add additional platforms and space while trying to preserve the existing services and architecture as much as possible. Paddington was first served by London Underground trains in 1863, as the original western terminus of the [[Metropolitan Railway]], the world's first underground railway. In the 20th century, suburban and commuter services appeared at Paddington as the [[urban sprawl]] of London moved westwards. Despite the numerous upgrades and rebuilding, plus damage sustained in particular during [[World War II]], Brunel's original design is still recognisable.

==Location==
[[File:Paddington station location map.svg|thumb|left|240px|Station location map. The Paddington&nbsp;(underground) station marked here is the southern station on Praed Street.]]
The station complex is bounded at the front by [[Praed Street]] and at the rear by Bishop's Bridge Road, which crosses the station throat on [[Bishop's Bridge]]. On the west side of the station is Eastbourne Terrace, while the east side is bounded by the Paddington arm of the [[Grand Union Canal]]. The station is in a shallow cutting, a fact obscured at the front by a hotel building, but which can be clearly seen from the other three sides.<ref name="lbwpb">{{cite web |title=Paddington Station Planning Brief |publisher=Westminster City Council |url=http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/BriefMar08redraft2.pdf |date=April 2009 |access-date=28 July 2008 |archive-date=25 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125043608/http://www3.westminster.gov.uk/docstores/publications_store/BriefMar08redraft2.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> To the north of the station is the [[Westway (London)|Westway]], to the northeast is [[Edgware Road]], and to the east and southeast is the [[London Inner Ring Road]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://londonmap360.com/london-bus-map#.WbPOGtOGN2Q|title=Central London Bus Map|publisher=London Map 360|access-date=9 September 2017}}</ref>

The surrounding area is partly residential, and includes the major [[St Mary's Hospital, London|St Mary's Hospital]], restaurants and hotels. Until recently there was little office accommodation in the area, and most commuters interchanged between [[National Rail]] and the [[London Underground]] to reach workplaces in the [[West End of London|West End]] or the [[City of London|City]]. However, recent redevelopment of derelict railway and canal land, marketed as [[Paddington Waterside]], has resulted in new office complexes nearby.<ref name=lbwpb/>{{sfn|Brindle|2004|pp=98–99}}

The station is in [[List of stations in London fare zone 1|London fare zone 1]]. In addition to the Underground stations at Paddington, [[Lancaster Gate tube station|Lancaster Gate station]] on the [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]] is a short walk away to the south. A little further to the south lie the conjoined parks of [[Hyde Park, London|Hyde Park]] and [[Kensington Gardens]].<ref>{{cite web | title = Lancaster Gate Tube Station | url = http://www.londontown.com/LondonInformation/Underground_Stations/Lancaster_Gate/33e0/ | work = LondonTown.com | access-date = 21 April 2015}}</ref>

The narrow busy section of the incoming main railway line between [[Ladbroke Grove]] and Paddington station is known as Paddington Throat among some engineers.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/robbie-burns-overground-challenge-24-09-2009/|title=Robbie Burns: Overground challenge|first=Ed|last=Owen|magazine=New Civil Engineer|date=24 September 2009|access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:DISTRICT(1888) p140 - Paddington Station (plan).jpg|thumb|left|upright|The layout of Paddington Station in 1888]]
The National Rail station is officially named '''London Paddington''', a name commonly used outside London but rarely by Londoners, who call it just '''Paddington''', as on the [[tube map|London Underground map]]. This same practice applies to all the London mainline rail termini, except London Bridge. Parts of the station, including the main [[train shed]], date from 1854, when it was built by [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]] as the London terminus for the [[Great Western Railway]] (GWR). It is one of eleven stations in London managed by [[Network Rail]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations// |title=Commercial information |date=April 2014 |work=Our Stations |publisher=Network Rail |location=London |access-date=13 November 2018 }}</ref>

===Great Western Railway===
After several false starts, Brunel announced the construction of a railway from Bristol to London on 30 July 1833. This became the GWR, and he intended it to be the best railway in the country.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=3}} The GWR had originally planned to terminate London services at {{rws|Euston}} as this allowed them to use part of the [[London and Birmingham Railway]]'s track into the station, which would have been cost effective.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=14}} This received government approval in 1835, but was rejected as a long-term solution by Brunel as he was concerned it would also allow [[Liverpool]] to compete as a port with Bristol if the railway from Birmingham was extended.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=14}}{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=303}}

The first station was a temporary terminus for the GWR on the west side of Bishop's Bridge Road, opened on 4 June 1838. The first GWR service from London to Taplow, near Maidenhead, ran from Paddington in 1838. After the main station opened, this became the site of the goods depot.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=20}}{{sfn|Butt|1995|p=180}} Brunel did not consider that anything less than a grand terminus dedicated to the GWR would be acceptable, and consequently this was approved in February 1853.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=306}}

[[File:Paddingtonstation.jpg|thumb|Paddington Station in the [[Victorian era]]]]
The main station between Bishop's Bridge Road and Praed Street was designed by Brunel, who was enthusiastic at the idea of being able to design a railway station himself, although much of the architectural detailing was by his associate [[Matthew Digby Wyatt]].  He took inspiration from [[Joseph Paxton]]'s [[The Crystal Palace|Crystal Palace]] and the [[München Hauptbahnhof]].{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=396}} The glazed roof is supported by [[wrought iron]] arches in three spans, respectively spanning {{convert|68|ft|m|sigfig=2}}, {{convert|102|ft|m|sigfig=2}} and {{convert|70|ft|m|sigfig=2}}. The roof is {{convert|699|ft|m|sigfig=2}} long, and the original roof spans had two [[transept]]s connecting the three spans.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=21}}{{sfn|Butt|1995|p=180}}{{sfn|Cole|2011|p=104}}

It is commonly believed that these were provided by Brunel to accommodate [[Transfer table|traversers]] to carry [[Coach (rail)|coaches]] between the tracks within the station. However recent research, using early documents and photographs, does not seem to support this belief, and their actual purpose is unknown.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=21}}{{sfn|Butt|1995|p=180}}{{sfn|Cole|2011|p=104}} The original station used four platforms, {{convert|27|ft|adj=on}}-wide and {{convert|24|ft|6|in|adj=on}}-wide departure platforms, a {{convert|21|ft|adj=on}} arrival platform, and a {{convert|47|ft|adj=on}} combined arrival platform and cab road. A series of nineteen turnplates were sited beyond the ends of the platforms for horse and coach traffic.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=308}}

The first GWR service from the new station departed on 16 January 1854, though the roof had not been finished at this point and there were no arrivals. It was formally opened on 29 May, and the older temporary station was demolished the following year.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=308}}

[[File:Hilton London Paddington.jpg|thumb|upright|The Praed Street facade of the Great Western Hotel (now the [[Hilton London Paddington]])]]
The [[Hilton London Paddington|Great Western Hotel]] was built on [[Praed Street]] in front of the station from 1851 to 1854 by architect [[Philip Charles Hardwick]], son of [[Philip Hardwick]] (designer of the [[Euston Arch]]) in a classical and French-chateau design. It opened on 9 June 1854, and had 103 bedrooms and 15 sitting rooms. Each corner contained a tower containing two additional floors beyond the five storeys of the main block.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=308}} It was originally run by a consortium of GWR shareholders and staff, before the company took over operations completely in 1896.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=311}}

The station was substantially enlarged in 1906–1915 and a fourth span of {{convert|109|ft|m|sigfig=2}} was added on the north side, parallel to the others. The new span was built in a similar style to the original three spans, but the detailing is different and it has no transepts.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=60}}<ref name=nramg>{{cite web |title=Architectural mini guide – Paddington |publisher=[[Network Rail]] |url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3053_PaddingtonArchitecturalMiniGuide.pdf
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120910055155/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/documents/3053_PaddingtonArchitecturalMiniGuide.pdf
|archive-date=10 September 2012|access-date=19 February 2015}}</ref> The area between the rear of the hotel and the concourse is called the Lawn. It was originally unroofed and occupied by sidings, but was later built up to form part of the station's first concourse.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=98}}<ref name=nramg/>

Paddington's capacity was doubled to four tracks in the 1870s. The quadrupling was completed to {{rws|Westbourne Park}} on 30 October 1871, {{rws|Slough}} in June 1879 and {{rws|Maidenhead}} in September 1884. An additional platform (later to become No.&nbsp;9) opened in June 1878, while two new departure platforms (later Nos.&nbsp;4&nbsp;and&nbsp;5) were added in 1885.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=313}} One of the lines between what is now platform 5 and 7 was removed, in order that the latter could be moved to a more southerly position. Aside from the June 1878 work, Brunel's original roof structure remained untouched throughout the improvements.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=314}}

The GWR began experimenting with the electric lighting in 1880, leading to Paddington being decorated with Christmas lights that year. Although the system was unreliable, it spurred the GWR on to a more ambitious lighting scheme in 1886, in which a 145V AC supply could light the terminus, office, goods yard and [[Royal Oak tube station|Royal Oak]] and [[Westbourne Park tube station|Westbourne Park]] stations. It was praised for its scale and showing that electricity could compete with [[gas lighting]] on the same scale.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=314}}

Paddington became an important milk depot towards the end of the 19th century. A milk dock was built 1881, and by the 20th century over 3,000 churns were being handled at the station every day. Other goods such as meat, fish, horses and flowers were also transported through Paddington. Passenger traffic continued to improve as well. In March 1906, the goods depot at Westbourne Park was moved to [[Old Oak Common TMD|Old Oak Common]]. The main departure platform was extended in 1908 and used for milk and parcels.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|pp=315–316}}

In 1911, work began to separate light and empty carriage traffic from running trains between Paddington to Old Oak Common, which involved the rebuilding of Westbourne Park station. The work was halted because of [[World War I]] but resumed in 1926, to be completed the following year.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=317}} Three new platforms were added; platform 12 in November 1913, platform 11 in December 1915, and platform 10 the following year.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=318}} The roof was completely reconstructed between 1922 and 1924, replacing Brunel's original cast-iron columns with steel replicas.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=319}}

[[File:Jagger GWR memorial1.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Great Western Railway War Memorial|The GWR memorial]]]]
Unlike several other London termini, Paddington saw no damage during [[World War I]]. Although [[London Victoria station|Victoria]] and {{rws|Charing Cross}} were the main stations for military movement during the war, Paddington was used for some of this traffic.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=318}}

On [[Armistice Day]] 1922, [[Great Western Railway War Memorial|a memorial to the employees]] of the GWR who died during the war was unveiled by [[Victor Spencer, 1st Viscount Churchill|Viscount Churchill]]. The bronze memorial, depicting a soldier reading a letter, was sculpted by [[Charles Sargeant Jagger]] and stands on platform 1.<ref name=nramg/><ref name=GWRmag>{{cite news |url=http://www.york.ac.uk/inst/irs/irshome/features/readings/archive/remembrance.htm#EX04 |title=Great Western Railway War Memorial |work=The Great Western Railway Magazine |date=December 1922 |pages=537–40 |access-date=9 July 2007}}</ref>

===Big Four and British Rail===
The GWR was the only railway company that continued through the [[Big Four (British railway companies)|Big Four]] grouping in 1923.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=303}} A tube railway for the Post Office, opened in December 1927, could cater for around 10,000 mailbags every day.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=319}}

Paddington was extended again from 1930 to 1934. Platforms 2 to 11 were extended past the Bishop's Road bridge and a new parcel depot was built.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=319}} Suburban services, which had never been considered important at Paddington, were increased as new housing estates in the Home Counties started being built. Bishop's Road station was rebuilt, giving an extra four platforms to Paddington (Nos.&nbsp;13–16) and providing a new ticket office and entrance for suburban services next to the bridge.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=320}} A public address system was introduced in 1936.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=321}} By this time, around 22,000 parcels a day were being forwarded from Paddington, with the Royal Mail service processing around 4,500 mailbags and 2,400 parcel bags every day.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=91}}

The station came under attack several times during [[World War II]]. On 17 April 1941, the departure side of the station was hit by a parachute mine, while on 22 March 1944, the roof between platforms 6 and 7 was destroyed by two {{convert|500|lb|kg|adj=on}} bombs.{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=69}} Passenger traffic greatly increased through Paddington during the war, partly by evacuation to the relatively quiet [[Thames Valley]], and because holidaymakers chose to travel west as large areas of the south and east coasts had been taken over for military purposes. On 29 July 1944, the station was closed for three hours because the platforms were saturated with passenger traffic, while on the subsequent [[Bank holiday|August bank holiday]], crowds were controlled in tight queues along Eastbourne Terrace by mounted police.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=322}}

[[File:Paddington_-_GWR_43187_meets_Brunel.JPG|thumb|upright|The statue of [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]]]]
Steam traffic began to be replaced in the late 1950s. Between 1959 and 1961, suburban services switched to [[diesel multiple unit]]s, while the last regular long-distance steam train left Paddington on 11 June 1965.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=324}} The track layout was reorganised in 1967, abolishing the distinction between arrival and departure platforms that had been a feature of Paddington since opening. A new set of sidings was built south of Royal Oak, and the track curve into Paddington was eased. Services to the Midlands were rerouted via {{rws|Marylebone}} during this time.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=325}}

The station concourse was enlarged in 1970, and the ticket office was rebuilt in the same year.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=325}} By this time, public opinion had turned against wholesale demolition and redevelopment of stations such as Euston, and consequently the rebuilding work was done with an eye towards preserving Brunel and Wyatt's original station design.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=326}}{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=94}} Special steam services began to be run from Paddington again in the 1980s.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=370}}

In 1982, a bronze statue of Brunel was erected on the station concourse. It was sculpted by John Doubleday and funded by the [[Bristol & West|Bristol and West Building Society]].{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=369}} Between 1989 and 1999, the Lawn was re-roofed and separated from the concourse by a glass screen wall. It is surrounded by shops and cafes on several levels.<ref name=nramg/>{{sfn|Brindle|2004|p=98}}

=== Privatisation ===
As with other major British railway termini, Paddington is owned and managed by [[Network Rail]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our stations |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/ |access-date=30 June 2020 |website= Network Rail}}</ref> Train services were [[Privatisation of British Rail|privatised]] in 1996, initially to Great Western Trains and [[Thames Trains]]. The former company was renamed First Great Western in 1998, and merged with [[First Great Western Link]] and [[Wessex Trains]] to form the [[Greater Western franchise]] in 2006. In 2015, the operating company was renamed [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]].<ref>{{cite web|title=December 2016 Rail Franchise Schedule|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/574792/december-2016-rail-franchise-schedule.pdf|access-date=6 August 2017|publisher=HM Government|archive-date=18 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118093659/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/574792/december-2016-rail-franchise-schedule.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the mid 1990s, the [[Great Western Main Line]] approaches and platforms were electrified as part of the [[Heathrow Express]] project.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Heathrow Express |url= https://www.railway-technology.com/projects/heathrow-express/ |access-date=30 June 2020 |website=Railway Technology }}</ref> Opening in 1998, the [[airport rail link]] connects the station directly to [[Heathrow Airport]]. From 1999 until 2003, Express Baggage check-in facilities for airline passengers were provided in the Lawn, however these were progressively replaced by retail units.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Clark| first=Andrew |date=7 July 2003 |title=BAA's Paddington check-in faces axe |work=The Guardian |location= London |url= https://www.theguardian.com/business/2003/jul/07/1 |access-date=30 June 2020}}</ref>

The station's fourth span was renovated in 2010, involving repair and restoration of the original glazed roof, so that platforms 9 to 12 can once more enjoy daylight.<ref name="span4">{{cite news |url=http://rail-news.com/2010/02/24/2527/?ReleaseID=4679&NewsAreaID=2&SearchCategoryID=8 |title=Let there be light |work=[[Railnews]] |location =Stevenage |access-date=16 August 2011}}</ref> A false ceiling or crash deck had been in place since 1996. Work was completed and the restored roof unveiled in July 2011. A second phase of improvements began in July 2014 and was completed two years later.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk/news/roof-refurbishments-to-be-completed-at-paddington-station|title=Roof Refurbishments to be Completed at Paddington Station|publisher=Network Rail|date=4 July 2014|access-date=3 September 2017}}</ref> Network Rail originally planned to demolish Span 4 and build an office block over it, which was successfully contested by [[Save Britain's Heritage]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.savebritainsheritage.org/docs/articles/News%202%2006.pdf |publisher=Save Britain's Heritage |title=Victory at Paddington |date=16 November 2006 |access-date=14 February 2012}}</ref>

In the mid 2010s, construction began on an underground station as part of the [[Crossrail]] project, located south west of the main station building. Coinciding with this project, a new taxi rank and pick up point was built north of the main station, as well as comprehensive upgrades to [[Paddington tube station (Bakerloo, Circle and District lines)|Paddington tube station]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=30 June 2020|title=Paddington Integrated Project |url= https://www.westonwilliamson.com/projects/paddington-integrated-project |access-date=30 June 2020 |website= Weston Williamson+Partners}}</ref> The underground platforms opened as the [[Elizabeth line]] on 24 May 2022.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=24 May 2022 |title=Elizabeth line: Passengers relish chance to ride new service |work=BBC News |url= https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-61563692 |access-date=1 April 2023}}</ref>

The station had historically been criticised for very poor air quality inside the train shed; however, the replacement of diesel [[InterCity 125]] trains by bi-mode [[British Rail Class 800|Class 800]] and [[British Rail Class 802|802]] trains in the late 2010s improved air quality.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 September 2015|title=Paddington Station air 'more polluted' than Marylebone Rd|url=https://airqualitynews.com/2015/09/11/paddington-station-air-more-polluted-than-marylebone-rd/|access-date=30 June 2020|website=Air Quality News}}</ref>

London Paddington has always been one of the busiest stations in the UK, and was ranked as the 8th busiest station in the United Kingdom during the 2016–17 period according to the Office of Rail & Road, with 36.6 million passengers during that period, and was placed between {{rws|Stratford}} and {{rws|London St Pancras International}}.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/1214/estimates-of-station-usage-2017-18-factsheet.pdf|title=Office of Rail & Road Statistics 2017–18|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref> However, as a result of the opening of the [[Elizabeth Line]], alongside {{rws|London Liverpool Street}}, it has become far busier, and London Paddington had become the 2nd busiest station in the United Kingdom during the 2022–23 period, with 59.2 million total passengers, behind London Liverpool Street and ahead of {{rws|London Waterloo}}, the former busiest station.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://dataportal.orr.gov.uk/media/axnd1tyj/station-usage-2022-23-statistical-release.pdf|title=Office of Rail & Road Statistics 2022–23|access-date=22 March 2024}}</ref>

==Services==
{{Railways around London Paddington station RDT}}
[[File:Paddington Station rush hour.jpg|thumb|right|The concourse at rush hour]]
Paddington is the London terminus for long-distance high-speed trains operated by [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]. Two services go to [[Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3 railway station|Heathrow Airport]]: the [[Heathrow Express]] travels non-stop at a premium fare, while [[Elizabeth line]] takes the same route but calls at all intermediate stations.<ref name=hexpab>{{cite web |title=Our Company |publisher=Heathrow Express |url=https://www.heathrowexpress.com/content.asp?SID={F7A5215E-07AE-4BCD-A09B-9FC1EE00CD75}&pageid=27 |access-date=2 August 2008 }}{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=hconwel>{{cite web |title=Welcome |publisher=Heathrow Connect |url=http://www.heathrowconnect.com/ |access-date=2 August 2008}}</ref>

The station has 13 terminal platforms, numbered 1 to 12 and 14 from south-west to north-east (left to right as seen from the concourse). Platforms 1 to 8 are below the original three spans of Brunel's train shed, platforms 9 to 12 beneath the later fourth span. Platform 13 was decommissioned in December 2016 to permit lengthening of platform 12 for 10-coach trains.<ref name=nrpsg/>

Platform 14 is within the [[Metropolitan Railway]]'s old Bishop's Road (Suburban) station to the north-west. Immediately alongside are through platforms 15 and 16, used by the [[London Underground]]'s [[Hammersmith & City line|Hammersmith & City]] and [[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle]] lines.<ref name=nrpsg>{{cite web |url=http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/pad.aspx |title=Paddington |publisher=[[Network Rail]] |access-date=3 September 2017}}</ref> The current operator, Great Western Railway, assigns numbers to the pocket timetables it publishes, and its services to Bath, Bristol, Weston-super-Mare and South Wales are in timetable number 1.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Train-times-and-tickets/Train-times/Timetables-from-14-May-2012|access-date=4 August 2012|title=Current timetable}}</ref>

With the building of the Elizabeth line Paddington gained two more low level platforms numbered A and B. These are located underground in the Elizabeth line section of the station directly to the south west of the main concourse. 

The concourse stretches across the heads of platforms 1 to 12, underneath the London end of the four train sheds. Platform 14 can only be reached indirectly via the north-western end of platform 12. A footbridge crosses the north-western end of the station and gives access to platforms 1–12 and 14. There are [[turnstile|ticket barriers]] to platforms 2–7 and 10–14.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://londonconnections.blogspot.com/2008/04/paddington-getting-ticket-gates.html |date=7 April 2008 |work=London Connections blog |title=Paddington getting ticket gates}}</ref> 

A first-class lounge on Platform 1 provides complimentary refreshments and Wi-Fi internet access. It also has screens showing television news as well as a departure board.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/On-board/First-class |title=First Class |publisher=First Great Western |access-date=6 May 2015 |archive-date=5 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205074309/http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/Your-journey/On-board/First-class |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Platform 7 is dedicated to the [[Heathrow Express]].{{sfn|Yonge|Padgett|2010|loc=map 1A}} Flight information display screens for airline passengers are provided at the Heathrow Express ticket office near these platforms.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.airrailnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=395:heathrow-express-brings-back-check-in-to-reduce-passenger-stress&catid=907:archive&Itemid=30 |work=AirRailNews |title=Heathrow Express brings back Check-in to reduce passenger stress |date=1 December 2009|access-date=15 February 2012}}</ref>  An integrated timetable is offered between Paddington and [[Rosslare Europort]] in Ireland via the [[Stena Line]] ferry from [[Fishguard Harbour railway station]] with through ticketing to stations and a daily morning and evening service in both directions, changing at Newport, Cardiff or Swansea. This route has been in existence since 1906.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail/fishguard/ |title=Rosslare to Fishguard |publisher=Stena Line |date=n.d. |access-date=8 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203005619/http://www.stenaline.ie/ferry/rail-and-sail/fishguard/ |archive-date=3 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/they-ran-on-nicer-lines-in-the-end-they-united-together-they-ran-on-hmane-lines-along-the-lines-of-1317219.html|title=They ran on nicer lines in the end they united together They ran on hmane lines Along the lines of fainess were in good copany lines|newspaper=The Independent|date=4 February 1996|access-date=7 September 2017}}</ref>

Paddington is the terminus for suburban trains to West London, [[Thames Valley]], [[Reading railway station|Reading]], and [[Didcot Parkway railway station|Didcot]], operated by Great Western Railway.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/great%20western/great%20western%20rus.pdf |publisher=Figure 3.12. Network Rail |title=Great Western Route Utilisation Study |date=March 2010 |access-date=14 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901170231/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/browse%20documents/rus%20documents/route%20utilisation%20strategies/great%20western/great%20western%20rus.pdf |archive-date=1 September 2012 }}</ref>

The general off peak service pattern in trains per hour (tph) is:

'''Great Western Railway'''
*1 tph [[Newbury railway station|Newbury]]
*2 tph [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads]] with 1 tp2h continuing to [[Weston-super-Mare railway station|Weston-super-Mare]]
*2 tph [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff Central]] with 1 tph carrying on to [[Swansea railway station|Swansea]]
*1 tph [[Cheltenham Spa railway station|Cheltenham Spa]]
*1 tp2h to [[Exeter St Davids railway station|Exeter St Davids]] (some services extended to various destinations in the South West)
*1 tp2h to [[Newbury railway station|Newbury]] (alternates with the Exeter St Davids Intercity service)
*2 tph [[Oxford railway station|Oxford]] with 1 tph carrying on to [[Great Malvern railway station|Great Malvern]] (some services extended to Hereford)
*1 tph [[Plymouth railway station|Plymouth]] via Exeter St Davids (1tp2h extended to Penzance)
*2 tph [[Didcot Parkway railway station|Didcot Parkway]] (stopping service using the relief lines)

'''Elizabeth line''' (operates from underground Elizabeth line platforms, A and B)
*4 tph [[Heathrow Terminal 4 railway station|Heathrow Terminal 4]]
*2 tph [[Heathrow Terminal 5 station|Heathrow Terminal 5]]
*2 tph [[Reading railway station|Reading]]
*2 tph [[Maidenhead railway station|Maidenhead]]
*8 tph [[Abbey Wood railway station|Abbey Wood]] 
*8 tph [[Shenfield railway station|Shenfield]] 

'''Heathrow Express'''
*4 tph [[Heathrow Terminal 5 railway station|Heathrow Terminal 5]]

{{adjacent stations|noclear=y
|system1=National Rail
|note-row1=
{{rail line|previous={{rws|Reading}}|route=[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] <br /><small>[[Great Western Main Line]]</small>|col={{FGW colour}} }}
{{rail line|previous={{rws|Reading}}|route=[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]<br /><small>[[Night Riviera]]</small>|col={{FGW colour}} }}
{{rail line|previous={{rws|Slough}}|route=[[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]]<br /><small>Commuter services<br />[[Great Western Main Line]]</small> |col={{FGW colour}} }}
|system4=Heathrow Express
|line4=Heathrow Express|left4=Heathrow Terminals 2 & 3|note-mid4=Heathrow Terminal 5–Paddington
|system5=Elizabeth Line
|line5=Elizabeth|left5=Acton Main Line|right5=Bond Street|note-mid5=Abbey Wood–Heathrow|type5=Heathrow
|line6=Elizabeth|left6=Ealing Broadway|right6=Bond Street|note-mid6=Abbey Wood–Reading|type6=Reading
|line7=Elizabeth|left7=|right7=Bond Street|note-mid7=Paddington–Shenfield|type7=Shenfield
|line8=Elizabeth|left8=Ealing Broadway|right8=Bond Street|to-left8=Heathrow Terminal 5|to-right8=Shenfield|note-mid8=Heathrow T5–Shenfield 
|header9=Future Services
{{rail line |previous={{rws|Bristol Parkway}}|route=[[Grand Union (train operating company)|Grand Union]]<br /><small>[[Grand Union (train operating company)|London–Carmarthen]]</small> |col={{Temporary rail colour|960018}} }}
|header10=Historical railways
|note-row10=
{{rail line |next=[[Royal Oak tube station|Royal Oak]]<br /><small>Line and station open</small>|route=[[Great Western Railway]]<br /><small>[[Great Western Main Line]]</small>|col={{GWR colour}} }}
}}

Until May 2003, Paddington was part of the [[Virgin CrossCountry]] network with services to the North of England and Scotland via [[Oxford railway station|Oxford]] and [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20061016083314/http://www.virgintrainsmediaroom.com/index.cfm?articleid=287 Virgin Trains restructures CrossCountry – Southern region] Virgin Trains 16 January 2003</ref> From June 2005 until May 2018, Paddington was the terminus for [[Heathrow Connect]] services.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 June 2004 |title=Heathrow Connect close to takeoff |url= https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/heathrow-connect-close-to-takeoff.html|url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190624163616/https://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/heathrow-connect-close-to-takeoff.html |archive-date=24 June 2019 |access-date=30 June 2020 |website= Railway Gazette}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Heathrow Connect out as TfL Rail comes in |url= https://www.railwaygazette.com/projects-and-planning/heathrow-connect-out-as-tfl-rail-comes-in/46486.article |access-date=30 June 2020 |website=Railway Gazette International}}</ref>

Until December 2018, [[Chiltern Railways]] operated a weekday [[Parliamentary train|parliamentary service]] from [[South Ruislip station|South Ruislip]] and to [[High Wycombe railway station|High Wycombe]] via the [[Acton–Northolt line]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181205074713/http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C72036/2018/12/07/advanced 2V27 1057 South Ruislip to London Paddington] Real Train Times 7 December 2018</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181205074909/http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/C71972/2018/12/07/advanced 2M29 1135 London Paddington to High Wycombe] Real Train Times 7 December 2018</ref> It ceased when the Acton-Northolt line closed. When its [[Marylebone railway station|London Marylebone]] terminus was closed, Chiltern Railways diverted its services to London Paddington as did [[Wrexham & Shropshire]] between 2008 and 2011.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20181208190704/https://www.chilternrailways.co.uk/10th-june-2018 10 June 2018] Chiltern Railways</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20101111095258/http://www.rail-reg.gov.uk/upload/pdf/s22-wsmr-13sa-approved-agreement.pdf Thirteenth Supplemental Agreement to the Track Access Agreement] Network Rail 20 January 2010</ref>

{{Wide image|Paddington Station Panorama.jpg|1000px|The platforms inside the train shed at London Paddington station. Three of the platforms are occupied by First Great Western [[InterCity 125|High Speed Trains]], while another two have Heathrow Express [[British Rail Class 332]] [[Electric multiple units| Electric Multiple Units]]}}

==Accidents and incidents==
On 9 August 1920, a passenger train collided with the buffers. Two people were injured.<ref name=Times100820>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Train Accident at Paddington |date=10 August 1870 |page=7 |issue=42485 |column=E }}</ref> The following year, a passenger train was being shunted into a platform and collided with three luggage vans already occupying the line. A carriage was derailed and a luggage van was wrecked.<ref name=Times130921>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Collision at Paddington Station |date=13 September 1921 |page=7 |issue=42824 |column=D }}</ref>

On 23 November 1983, a sleeper train hauled by [[British Rail Class 50|Class 50]] locomotive 50 041 ''Bulwark'' was derailed on the approach to Paddington after speeding through a crossover. Three of the seventy passengers were injured.<ref name=Times241180>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Eleven coaches derailed in Paddington sleeper crash |first=David |last=Nicholson-Lord |date=24 November 1983 |page=32 |issue=61698 |column=B-F }}</ref><ref name="DotPad83">{{cite book |url=http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/DoT_Paddington1983.pdf |title=Report of the derailment that occurred on 23rd November 1983 at Paddington Station |author=Department of Transport |date=18 February 1985 |publisher=Her Majesty's Stationery Office |isbn=0-11-550686-1 |access-date=18 June 2016}}</ref>

On 18 February 1991, Paddington was [[Bombings of Paddington and Victoria stations|bombed]] by the [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|Provisional IRA]], causing bad damage to the station's roof. Three hours later [[London Victoria station]] was targeted in a much more serious attack.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.theguardian.com/uk/1991/feb/19/northernireland.duncancampbell |title=Man killed, 38 hurt, as IRA switches target to stations |first=Duncan |last=Campbell |date=19 February 1991 |newspaper=The Guardian |location= London}}</ref>

The worst accident at Paddington was the [[Ladbroke Grove rail crash]] (also called the Paddington rail crash). On 5 October 1999, a Thames Train stopping service from Paddington to {{rws|Bedwyn}} [[Signal passed at danger|passed a red signal]] and collided with a Great Western express travelling in the opposite direction. The drivers of both trains were killed, along with 29 passengers; 400 others were injured.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1397112.stm |title=Ladbroke Grove: The driver's story|work=BBC News |date=19 June 2001 |access-date=9 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11124741/Paddington-rail-disaster-Her-last-words-to-me-were-goodbye-Daddy.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/road-and-rail-transport/11124741/Paddington-rail-disaster-Her-last-words-to-me-were-goodbye-Daddy.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title= Paddington rail disaster: 'Her last words to me were goodbye, Daddy' |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location= London |date=28 September 2014 |access-date=9 September 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 25 May 2014, the middle coach of an empty stock [[British Rail Class 360|Class 360]] [[electric multiple unit]] 360 205 derailed as it entered platform 3, due to maintenance errors.<ref name="RAIB032015">{{cite web |url= https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5540a1bced915d15db000048/R032015_150430_Paddington.pdf |title=Derailment of an empty passenger train at Paddington station 25 May 2014 |publisher=Rail Accidents Investigation Branch |access-date=17 June 2016}}</ref>

On 16 June 2016, a [[British Rail Class 165|Class 165]] [[diesel multiple unit]] 165 124 passed a signal at danger and derailed in a siding, causing significant disruption to services and damage to infrastructure.<ref name="BBC36555082">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-36555082 |title=Train derails at Paddington: Services disrupted in and out of station |work=BBC News |date=16 June 2016 |access-date=17 June 2016}}</ref>

On 20 August 2017, a [[British Rail Class 43 (HST)|Class 43]], 43188 derailed during departure from Platform 2, when forming the rear power car of the 11:57 service to {{stnlnk|Penzance}}.<ref name="Metro6865539">{{cite web |url=http://metro.co.uk/2017/08/20/train-derails-as-it-leaves-london-paddington-station-6865539/ |title=Train derails as it leaves London Paddington Station |work=Metro |location= London |first=Ashitha |last=Nagesh |date=20 August 2017}}</ref>

==London Underground stations==
{{Main|Paddington tube station (Bakerloo, Circle and District lines)|Paddington tube station (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines)}}
The GWR was aware that Paddington was some distance from the centre of London, and in 1854 donated £175,000 (£{{inflation|UK|175000|1854|fmt=c|r=-3}} as of {{inflation-year|UK}}) to the [[Metropolitan Railway|North Metropolitan Railway]] in order that the station could have a link to the City. Consequently, Paddington was the original western terminus of the line when it opened on 1 January 1863.{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=311}} An extension to the Metropolitan Railway provided Paddington with a connection to south of the River Thames, opening from Praed Street Junction via a new [[Paddington tube station (Bakerloo, Circle and District lines)|station at Paddington, located on Praed Street]], to [[Gloucester Road tube station|Gloucester Road]] on 1 October 1868.{{sfn|Day|1979|p=17}} An extension of the [[Baker Street and Waterloo Railway]] to Paddington opened on 1 December 1913, connecting to the Metropolitan Railway's Praed Street station.{{sfn|Day|1979|p=87}}

Because of the history of the various railways, Paddington is served by four [[London Underground]] lines through two separate stations: the [[Bakerloo line|Bakerloo]], [[Circle line (London Underground)|Circle]] and [[District line|District]] lines have a combined [[Paddington tube station (Bakerloo, Circle and District lines)|sub-surface and deep-level station]] on Praed Street to the south of the main line station, and the Circle and [[Hammersmith & City line|Hammersmith & City]] lines have a [[Paddington tube station (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines)|sub-surface station]] with access from [[Paddington Basin]] to the north. Circle line services run through both of the sub-surface stations as part of a spiral route. Although shown on the [[Tube map|London Underground map]] as a single station, the two stations are not directly linked.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/51%C2%B031'06.9%22N+0%C2%B010'42.5%22W/@51.5187991,-0.1789736,19z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d51.518578!4d-0.17847?hl=en|title=Paddington Station (Circle and Hammersmith & City)|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=9 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/51%C2%B030'55.6%22N+0%C2%B010'31.5%22W/@51.515627,-0.176093,19z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d51.51543!4d-0.175409?hl=en|title=Paddington Station (Bakerloo, Circle and District)|publisher=Google Maps|access-date=9 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.tfl.gov.uk/standard-tube-map.pdf|title=Standard Tube Map|publisher=Transport for London|access-date=9 September 2017}}</ref>

[[Lancaster Gate tube station|Lancaster Gate]] Underground station on the [[Central line (London Underground)|Central line]] and [[Marylebone station|Marylebone]] mainline station are within walking distance, and out-of-station interchanges to these stations are permitted at no extra cost if made within the permitted time.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

{{Adjacent stations
|header1=[[Paddington tube station (Bakerloo, Circle and District lines)|Paddington (Praed Street)]]
  |system2=London Underground
    |line2=Bakerloo|left2=Warwick Avenue|right2=Edgware Road|note-right2=Deep tube station
    |line3=Circle|left3=Bayswater|right3=Edgware Road|type3=section 6|note-right3=Subsurface station
    |line4=District|left4=Bayswater|right4=Edgware Road|type4=Edgware|note-mid4=Wimbledon–Edgware Road|note-right4=Subsurface station
|header5=[[Paddington tube station (Circle and Hammersmith & City lines)|Paddington (Bishop's Road)]]
  |system6=London Underground
    |line6=Circle|left6=Royal Oak|right6=Edgware Road|type6=section 1|note-right6=Subsurface station
    |line7=Hammersmith & City|left7=Royal Oak|right7=Edgware Road|note-right7=Subsurface station
}}

==Elizabeth line station<span class="anchor" id="Elizabeth"></span>==
[[File:Paddington Pergola (52130213007).jpg|thumb|An entrance to the Elizabeth line station, with the canopy above]]
[[File:Paddington station Elizabeth Line 25th May 2022 41.jpg|thumb|Elizabeth line platforms|alt=A wide island platform, with glass platform edge doors at either side. There are purple roundels labelled Paddington and benches in the centre. The ceiling is concrete with large circular light fixtures.]]
As part of the [[Crossrail]] project, a new underground station was constructed on the site of the former taxi rank in Departures Road.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paddington Crossrail Station |url= https://ramboll.com/projects/ruk/paddington-crossrail-station |access-date= 15 August 2020 |website=Ramboll Group |location= Copenhagen}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Paddington Station |url= http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/stations/paddington/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20101026030835/http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/stations/paddington/ |url-status= dead |archive-date= 26 October 2010 |access-date= 15 August 2020 |publisher= Crossrail }}</ref> The platforms opened with the launch of the [[Elizabeth line]] on 24 May 2022.<ref name=":1" />

Built using [[Station box|cut and cover]] construction, the [[station box]] is {{convert|23|m||abbr=on}} deep and {{convert|260|metres||abbr=on}} long.<ref>{{cite news |title=Paddington Crossrail contract signed |work=Rail |location=Peterborough |page=21 |date=10 August 2011}}</ref> As part of the construction of the station, the taxi rank was moved to the north side of the station,<ref>{{Cite press release |last=Whitcombe |first=Juliet |title=Paddington's new taxi rank opens |url= http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/paddingtons-new-taxi-rank-opens |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130620001611/http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/paddingtons-new-taxi-rank-opens |url-status= dead |archive-date= 20 June 2013 |date=13 February 2012 |access-date= 15 August 2020 |publisher=Crossrail }}</ref> and Eastbourne Terrace was closed in early 2012 for two years to allow construction of the station box to take place.<ref>{{Cite press release |last=Eleftheriou |first=Krista |date=14 February 2014 |title=Paddington's Eastbourne Terrace reopens to buses |url= http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/paddingtons-eastbourne-terrace-reopens-to-buses |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180403004648/http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/articles/paddingtons-eastbourne-terrace-reopens-to-buses |url-status= dead |archive-date= 3 April 2018 |access-date=15 August 2020 |publisher=Crossrail}}</ref>

The station was designed by [[Weston Williamson]],<ref>{{Cite web |date=15 August 2020 |title= Paddington Elizabeth Line Station |url= https://www.westonwilliamson.com/projects/paddington-elizabeth-line-station |access-date=15 August 2020 |publisher=Weston Williamson + Partners |location= London}}</ref> with a {{convert|90|metres||abbr=on}} clear opening into the underground station covered by a {{convert|120|metres||abbr=on}} long by {{convert|23|metres||abbr=on}} wide glass canopy. Artwork of [[cloud formations]] by the artist [[Spencer Finch]] has been digitally printed onto the glass canopy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Artwork at Paddington |url= http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/art-on-crossrail/artwork-at-paddington |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190901091750/http://www.crossrail.co.uk/route/art-on-crossrail/artwork-at-paddington |url-status= dead |archive-date= 1 September 2019 |access-date=15 August 2020 |publisher=Crossrail }}</ref> The station was awarded a [[Civic Trust Awards|Civic Trust Award]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2023 Civic Trust Award Winners |url=https://www.civictrustawards.org.uk/uploads/2023_Civic_Trust_Awards_Winners.pdf |access-date=1 April 2023 |website=Civic Trust Awards |page=4 |quote=}}</ref>

In the [[History of the Crossrail line|1990s proposals for Crossrail]], the station was to be built in the same location on Eastbourne Terrace but would have been designed by the architect [[Will Alsop]] with a similar canopy-based design.<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 July 1994 |title=Architecture: Colourful ideas of wilful Will |url= http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/news/architecture-colourful-ideas-of-wilful-will-1415088.html |access-date=15 August 2020 |newspaper=The Independent |location= London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1 May 2003 |title=End of the line for Alsop as Crossrail picks John McAslan |url= http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/archive/end-of-the-line-for-alsop-as-crossrail-picks-john-mcaslan |access-date=15 August 2020 |work=Architects' Journal |location= London}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author= Alsop and Störmer Architects |title=Selected and current works |year=1999 |publisher=Images Pub. Group |isbn=1-86470-001-7 |location=Mulgrave, Vic. |pages=100|oclc=42213362}}</ref>

Like all Elizabeth line stations, the station has been built to be fully accessible, with lifts and step-free access. An underground connecting passage between the [[Paddington tube station (Bakerloo, Circle and District lines)|Bakerloo line]] platforms and the [[Elizabeth line]] platforms has been built.<ref>{{Cite press release |date=6 January 2015 |title=TfL confirms contractor for Bakerloo line link |url= https://tfl.gov.uk/info-for/media/press-releases/2015/january/tfl-confirm-contractor-for-bakerloo-line-li |access-date=15 August 2020 |publisher=[[Transport for London]]}}</ref>

{{Adjacent stations
|header1=Paddington
  |system6=Elizabeth Line
    |line6=Elizabeth|left6=Ealing Broadway|right6=Bond Street|to-left6=Reading|to-right6=Abbey Wood
    |line7=Elizabeth|left7=Acton Main Line|right7=Bond Street|to-left7=Heathrow|to-right7=Abbey Wood
    |line8=Elizabeth|left8 Ealing Broadway|right8=Bond Street|to-right8=Shenfield
}}

==Cultural references==
[[File:Paddington Bear Statue in new location at Paddington Station.jpg|thumb|The statue of Paddington Bear]]
The children's book character [[Paddington Bear]] was named after the station. In the books, by [[Michael Bond]], he is found at the station, having come from "deepest, darkest [[Peru]]" and with a note attached to his coat reading "please look after this bear, thank you". A statue of him by [[Marcus Cornish]], based on the original drawings by [[Peggy Fortnum]], is located under the clock on platform 1.<ref>{{cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/news/paddington-returns-to-his-station-as-childrens-favourite-833572.html | title = Paddington returns to his station as children's favourite | first = Andy | last = McSmith | work = The Independent | date = 24 May 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last = Silvey | first = Anita | title = The Essential Guide to Children's Books and Their Creators | url = https://archive.org/details/essentialguideto00silv | url-access = registration | publisher = Houghton Mifflin | year = 2002 | pages = 51 | isbn = 0-618-19082-1}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.secret-london.co.uk/Fiction.html | title = Statues of Fictional Characters | work = Secret London | access-date = 21 April 2015}}</ref>

Paddington station has been referred to in several popular works of fiction. It is mentioned in several [[Sherlock Holmes]] novels. In ''[[The Hound of the Baskervilles]]'', Watson and his companions Dr. Mortimer and Sir Henry Baskerville leave for Dartmoor from Paddington, while in ''[[The Boscombe Valley Mystery]]'', Holmes and Watson leave the station for a train to Boscombe Valley near [[Ross-on-Wye]], [[Herefordshire]].<ref>{{cite book |title=The London of Sherlock Holmes |first=John |last=Christopher |publisher=Amberley Publishing |year=2012 |page=107 |isbn=978-1-445-61568-4}}</ref> The mystery novel ''[[4.50 From Paddington]]'' (1957) by [[Agatha Christie]] begins with a murder witnessed by a passenger on a train from Paddington.<ref>{{cite book |isbn=978-0-00-720854-8|first=Agatha |last=Christie |title=4.50 From Paddington |publisher=Harper Collins |year=1957}}</ref>

One of ''[[The Railway Series]]'' books, ''The Eight Famous Engines'', contains a story about Gordon, Duck and a foreign engine debating which station London is. Duck says that he used to work at Paddington so he knows that Paddington is most important. However, Gordon later finds out that the station in London is [[St Pancras railway station|St Pancras]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Awdry |first=W.V. |author-link=The Rev. W. Awdry |title=The Railway Series, no. 12: The Eight Famous Engines |year=1994 |orig-year=1957 |publisher=[[William Heinemann]] |location=London |isbn=0-434-92789-9 |pages=20, 34 }}</ref> There is a fictional underground Paddington station on the North London System in the novel ''[[The Horn of Mortal Danger]]'' (1980).<ref>{{cite book |last=Leonard |first=Lawrence |author-link=Lawrence Leonard |title=The Horn of Mortal Danger |publisher=Cox and Wyman|year=1980 |isbn=0-7445-0847-9}}</ref>

Paddington station was the subject of [[William Powell Frith]]'s 1862 painting ''[[The Railway Station]]''. The portrait was viewed by over 21,000 people (paying a [[shilling (British coin)|shilling]] each) in the first seven weeks of its being publicly shown. The painting is now held in the [[Royal Holloway, University of London|Royal Holloway College]].{{sfn|Jackson|1984|p=311}}

The band [[Supertramp]] used Paddington station to record the train sounds featured in the song "Rudy" on the 1974 album ''[[Crime of the Century (album)|Crime of the Century]]''.<ref name=MOJO>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AVQbF9lTBwgC&pg=PA335 |title=The Mojo Collection |page=335 |publisher=Canongate |date=November 2007 |isbn=9781847676436 |access-date=17 December 2011}}</ref> There is a documentary television series about Paddington station on Channel 5 called ''[[Paddington Station 24/7]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.networkrail.co.uk/new-documentary-series-begins-tonight-paddington-station-247/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190209061157/https://www.networkrail.co.uk/new-documentary-series-begins-tonight-paddington-station-247/ |archive-date=9 February 2019 |title=Paddington Station 24/7 – new documentary series|publisher=Network Rail|access-date=13 January 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Connections==
[[London Buses]] routes [[London Buses route 7|7]], [[London Buses route 16|16]], [[London Buses route 23|23]], [[London Buses route 27|27]], [[London Buses route 36|36]], [[London Buses route 46|46]], [[London Buses route 205|205]] and night routes [[London Buses route N7|N7]], [[London Buses route N27|N27]] and [[London Buses route N205|N205]] serve the station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://content.tfl.gov.uk/bus-route-maps/paddington-a4-290423.pdf|title=Buses from Paddington|date=29 April 2023|website=TfL|access-date=5 May 2023}}</ref>

==Railway band==
Paddington is home to the Great Western Railway Paddington Band, the last railway band in England.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.paddingtonrailwayband.co.uk/index.html|title=Great Western Railway Paddington Band|website=www.paddingtonrailwayband.co.uk|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200419093230/http://www.paddingtonrailwayband.co.uk/index.html|archive-date=19 April 2020|access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref> It plays on Friday evenings on the main concourse.<ref name=":0" /> In 1997, [[Railtrack]] unsuccessfully tried to evict the band, citing a lack of space while the station was redeveloped to accommodate Heathrow Express services.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=3 December 1997|title=Railtrack tells GWR Band to quit Paddington station|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]|issue=319|page=7}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|date=17 December 1997|title=GWR Band secures victory from Railtrack|magazine=[[Rail (magazine)|Rail]]|issue=320|page=9}}</ref>

==References==
'''Citations'''
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

'''Sources'''
{{refbegin}}
* {{cite book |first=Steven |last=Brindle |title=Paddington Station: Its History and Architecture |publisher=English Heritage |year=2004 |isbn=1-873592-70-1 }}
* {{Butt-Stations}}
* {{cite book |last=Cole |first=Beverly |title=Trains |publisher=H.F.Ullmann |year=2011 |isbn=978-3-8480-0516-1 |location=Potsdam, Germany }}
* {{cite book |last=Day |first=John R|title=The story of London's Underground|year=1979 | orig-year=1963 | publisher = London Transport | edition=6th |isbn=0-85329-094-6 }}
* {{cite book |last=Jackson|first=Alan| year = 1984 |orig-year=1969 | title = London's Termini | publisher = David & Charles | edition=New Revised| isbn = 0-330-02747-6|location=London}}
* {{cite book |last1=Yonge |first1=John |last2=Padgett |first2=David |editor-last=Bridge |editor-first=Mike |title=Railway Track Diagrams 3: Western |edition=5th |date=August 2010 |orig-year=1989 |publisher=Trackmaps |location=Bradford on Avon |isbn=978-0-9549866-6-7 |at=map 1A }}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite book|title=This is Paddington|first=John|last=Vaughan|date=1982|publisher=Ian Allan|isbn=9780711011144|oclc=10072516}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Paddington station}}
* [https://www.networkrail.co.uk/communities/passengers/our-stations/london-paddington/ Station information] on Paddington station from [[Network Rail]]
* [http://www.livedepartureboards.co.uk/ldb/summary.aspx?T=PAD Train times] and [http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations/PAD/details.html station information] for Paddington railway station from [[National Rail]] (Station code: PAD)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150414174943/http://www.networkrail.co.uk/virtualarchive/paddington-station/ Paddington Station] (Virtual Archive from Network Rail)

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[[Category:1838 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Network Rail managed stations]]
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[[Category:DfT Category A stations]]
[[Category:Former Great Western Railway stations]] <!-- main -->
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1838]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain closed in 1854]]
[[Category:Railway stations in Great Britain opened in 1854]]
[[Category:Grade I listed buildings in the City of Westminster|Paddington Station]]
[[Category:Grade I listed railway stations]]
[[Category:Great Western Main Line]]
[[Category:South Wales Main Line]]
[[Category:Isambard Kingdom Brunel railway stations]]
[[Category:Railway stations served by the Elizabeth line]]
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[[Category:Paddington|Station]]
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