Trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach, and Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood will be disrupted from Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 February because of engineering work.

The line closure will allow Network Rail to upgrade the track and signalling between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood.

During this time buses will replace trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Severn Beach, and between Filton Abbey Wood and Lawrence Hill. Network Rail will also carry out essential track maintenance at Clifton Down and St Andrews Road.

Track and signal upgrades at Bristol Temple Meads last summer delivered the capacity to operate up to two trains an hour on the Severn Beach line. However, further rail improvements are needed for new train services serving additional railway stations as part of the Bristol Rail Regeneration programme.

Work is also taking place to construct a new station at Portway Park & Ride on the Severn Beach line, including signalling work and building concrete foundations for the new station platform which is due to open this summer. Train services will run every 30 minutes and complement the existing city centre bus services.

From Saturday 19 to Sunday 27 February:

• trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood will run to an amended timetable, not stopping at Lawrence Hill or Stapleton Road;
• buses will replace trains on the Severn Beach line, including services at Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road;
• valid rail tickets will also be accepted on First West of England buses via any reasonable route.

Full information about the closures is on GWR’s website at http://GWR.com/Bristol.

GWR Station Manager for Bristol Temple Meads and the Severn Beach line, Alex Hills said: “This work builds on the improvements in the Bristol area that have been delivered to enable GWR to provide more opportunities to travel by rail.

“Although the main lines between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood remain open during this period, trains cannot stop at either Lawrence Hill or Stapleton Road.

“We’ll continue to keep people moving, but I’d encourage those who travel to check beforehand as departure times may be different to normal and journey times extended.”

Network Rail Programme Manager, Capital Delivery Building and Civils, Dan Parkes said: “We are pleased to be starting work on the construction of the new Portway Park & Ride station, which once finished, will help further connect communities served by the Severn Beach line with this new, additional station.

“Our planned engineering work during this week-long closure is vital in enabling us to reconfigure the signalling needed to accommodate the new station as well as build the concrete foundations in preparation for the new platform. During this time, we’ll also be making improvements to drainage along the railway line.

“We thank passengers and local residents in advance for their patience and understanding while we make these important upgrades.”