Great Western Coffee Shop

I caught the 09:23 at Taplow for Pad but deciding I had ample time i decided to wait at Slough  for the 09:51 Fast (17 mins). When I was surprised to find empty stock arriving from London into Platform 5 and was told it was the 09:43 non stop Padd! Booked 25 mins.

Had a very pleasant ride in an almost empty train in deregulated 1st but it was up the Relief so we were checked at West Ealing by the previous stopper. Arrived a couple of minutes late just in front of )9:51

Presumably it's a extra train to relieve the 09:51 which is from Oxford.

I think i might do that in future as the stoppers are usually packed by Hayes.

PS it's also Off Peak as its arrival time is 10:04

Another useful addition to the timetable in those very busy periods just after the main rush hour.  GWR have made some real improvements over the recent years in this regard in both the morning and evening.  As you say, will prove very useful as a relief for the very busy 180 service at 09:51 which has come from Oxford and called at Didcot and Reading picking up loads of off-peak passengers and arriving Slough packed - especially today given that the 180 was replaced with a 2-car turbo!