To be frustrated by a useless train ticket

[Woman2023]

I have bought a return ticket through London so I can break my journey back in London on Sunday.

I'm just looking at the trains back to Paddington and the usual 20 min journey from slough is replaced by a 1 and 1/2 hour bus replacement service, then a further train journey, which added on to the part where I get to slough makes the trip just back to London nearly 3 hours.

I would have taken a different route out of London if I had realised. Is there any chance I can use a different route on the grounds they aren't providing a reasonable service?

I bought it at a station machine so I don't even have a company i can talk to about it as who sold it to me?

Can you go from Waterloo to Reading?

Or get Elizabeth line to Ealing Broadway and a train from there?

Does it specify via Paddington or any route? The website(GWR?) should show details of the alternatives.

What 'class' of ticket is it? Is it off peak or advance? You can cancel and rebook an off peak. If you do Twitter , send a message to the customer service team of the train company. Normally they are super helpful

It appears to be the Elizabeth line that's got the problem, between Slough and Paddington. I am getting on at Maidenhead. I think I'll just go to High Wycombe instead even if it costs me as it's ridiculous for a one hour drive to take 3 hours on public transport.

Looks like you could get a train from Maidenhead to Ealing broadway - then just hop on the tube.

But only after 12.30ish...

@Woman2023 sadly we had a similar thing during a trip to london when they had just closed all the booking desks!! trying to get somewhere and machine said change at such and such a station. reach that station to find the train we wanted to get on only ran on saturday and sunday!! its a nightmare if you dont know your way about!

That's the thing, I want to be in London by midday.

@2jacqi

Can you get to Windsor from maidenhead?

You can then pick the the train from Windsor and Eton Riverside to Waterloo. It's about an hour.

Cam you take a bus or coach into London? You may get a refund on your return ticket. Or a bus to Reading or Windsor station?

A bus is a good idea, I will check them out as I think a quick bus does go just a few miles from where I am.

If you can get to Richmond by bus/train you can pick up underground.

This is bad advice. The tube to Paddington on district/ circle will take forever. Better to go through to Waterloo on a fast train and get the bakerloo from there.