Somerset and West Country rail services face major changes over the Easter weekend
Rail passengers planning to travel over the Easter weekend are being strongly urged to check their journeys ahead of time, as significant engineering works are set to cause widespread service disruptions.
Network Rail has confirmed that all train services to and from Frome in Somerset will be impacted by maintenance work starting from 22:00 BST on Saturday, 19 April, until 22:00 on Monday, 21 April.
Frome Services Disrupted – Rail Replacement in Place
Travellers on routes between London and the South West, as well as those on services between Westbury and Weymouth, should expect changes. Trains will not stop at Frome during the works. Instead, a replacement bus service will operate between Frome and Westbury, located in Wiltshire.
This disruption is part of a larger engineering schedule that will also see services between London Paddington and Reading reduced over the same period. The ripple effect will impact travel to several key West Country locations.
Jo Grew, Network Rail’s route strategy director, emphasised the importance of the upgrades: “We’re doing this so we can undertake some really important track maintenance works, and this will help us be able to run the railway station more smoothly and more reliably afterwards.
So I really would urge all passengers in the area to check their plans before they travel and use either the National Rail Enquiries website or the Great Western Railways website to do so.”
Passengers on other parts of Network Rail’s western route won’t be spared either. The track between Maidenhead and Bourne End/Marlow remains closed, with a bus replacement service running through Sunday.
In addition, services between East Acton and London Paddington will undergo engineering work from Friday through Monday.
The ongoing development of HS2’s Old Oak Common station in west London is contributing further to timetable reductions. This work is affecting Great Western Railway, as well as the Heathrow Express and Elizabeth Line. The route between Reading and London Paddington will be operating on a reduced schedule.
Conclusion
With a patchwork of closures and revised schedules across the South West and into London, Easter weekend travel by train will require extra planning, like a train ticket, and planning for Delays. Passengers are strongly advised to consult updated timetables on National Rail Enquiries or Great Western Railway platforms before travelling.
