Passengers are being advised to check journeys ahead with services at London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads affected by rail improvement works this weekend!

Essential signalling upgrades are being carried out by Network Rail for the London Paddington area on Sunday and will see the station close to all trains for half a day until 12:00.

Work is also being carried out on the recently improved railway junction situated on the approach to Bristol Temple Meads and will impact on train services on both Saturday and Sunday this weekend.

Great Western Railway (GWR) is advising passengers to plan their journeys ahead and also to check journey time before setting off.

London Paddington Area Disruption:

• The impact of no trains running either to or from London Paddington on Sunday morning will mean that long-distance services on the GWR network will need to start or end at Reading. 
• Passengers arriving at Reading are recommended to use South Western Railway services into London Waterloo.
• Local services running from Didcot Parkway will now start and end at Slough, where rail replacement buses will run to Boston Manor for the Piccadilly Line or Ealing Broadway for the District Line.
• Rail replacement buses will be operation on sections of routes between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eaton Riverside, and also between London Marylebone and Oxford

For smoother, faster journeys GWR is recommending that passengers look into the option of travelling either the day before or after 12:00 on the day of the works.

To find out more, visit: www.GWR.com/Upgrade 

Bristol Temple Meads Disruption:

Work is being completed on the Bristol East junction over the weekend and once complete will mean the temporary speed restrictions which are currently in place between Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway or Bath Spa, will be removed 

• Saturday the 25th of September will see rail replacement buses in operation between Bristol Temple Meads and Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road, Filton Abbey Wood or Bristol Parkway.
• Sunday the 26th of September will see rail replacement buses in operation between Bristol Temple Meads and Keynsham, Oldfield Park or Bath Spa.

To find out more, visit: www.GWR.com/Bristol 

GWR Managing Director Mark Hopwood said: “We work very closely with Network Rail to make sure essential track and signalling improvements can take place when fewer people are travelling and with minimum disruption to customers.

“We will continue to keep people moving during these works, but journeys may take longer and trains could be busier than usual. I’m grateful for customers’ patience while the work is completed, and would encourage those who do need to travel to check beforehand.”

Network Rail Programme Manager Scott Pillinger said: “We would like to thank passengers for their understanding while we complete these important signalling upgrades to prepare for the start of HS2.

“The HS2 route will connect directly into the Great Western network thanks to a brand-new station at Old Oak Common, making it easier and quicker to change trains than travelling through central London.”

GWR Regional Development Manager Matt Barnes said: “We thank customers in advance for their patience and urge them to plan ahead as Network Rail delivers the final touches to its upgrade of the Bristol East junction.

“This work will in time help us to deliver 4,000 more train seats a day into the city, on more services through Bristol and help to reduce the conflict between long-distance and local stopping services, helping to maintain the reliability of our trains.”

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