On Sunday (15 October), Great Western Railway (GWR) will provide nearly nine thousand extra seats on fifteen extra trains to carry runners and supporters to and from the Bath Half Marathon.

Race entrants will be running in three waves, allocated according to their predicted finish time. The fastest runners will set off in the first wave at 10:20, followed by the second wave at 10:40 and the third and final wave at 11:00.

The race will start at a different location from previously, on Royal Avenue, in the heart of the World Heritage City. The route will then loop around the city.

Information on road closures and other local arrangements can be found here.

GWR will operate fifty per cent more services between 0830 and 1550 than on a usual Sunday. However, it is warning passengers that trains will still be busy immediately before and after the event.

The first services of the day depart at these times:

• Swindon to Bath Spa at 0901, arriving at 0926
• Westbury to Bath: 0840, arriving at 0907
• Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa: 0745, arriving at 0756
• Cardiff Central to Bath Spa: 0850, arriving at 1029

Bath Spa Station Manager Oana Apetroaie said: “We’re delighted to welcome Bath Half runners and supporters alike to our world-famous city, helping to take the strain out of travelling on the day.

“While our friendly staff will be on hand to help keep people moving as they return to the station, I urge customers to allow time for their journeys as the city, and our trains, will be extremely busy immediately before and after the race.”