We may sometimes have to change our timetables so please check your journey details as close as possible to your date of travel.
If we do change things after you have bought a ticket, you can either use any reasonable alternative service, or claim a full refund.
Timetable changes
The following planned engineering work may affect your journey:
2025
October
Track renewal and structures work will affect train services via Wokingham.
Weekend of 4/5 October
Replacement buses are planned between Reading and North Camp on Saturday or Reading and Guildford on Sunday. Trains will run between Blackwater and Redhill/Gatwick Airport on Saturday, or between Guildford and Redhill/Gatwick Airport on Sunday.
Saturday 25 to Monday 27 October
Replacement buses are planned between Reading and Wokingham. Trains will still run between Wokingham and Redhill/Gatwick Airport.
Signalling upgrade work will affect train services between Llanelli and Carmarthen.
Trains will still run between London Paddington and Swansea.
Replacement buses are planned between Swansea and Carmarthen.
New station construction work and track maintenance will affect some train services to/from London Paddington.
Trains will run to an amended timetable because only two out of four tracks will be available.
Maintenance of the electrical power supply will affect all trains using the Severn Tunnel until 15:40.
During this time, trains between London and South Wales will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport not stopping at Bristol Parkway.
A very limited train service will run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway.
Trains between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour will start/terminate at Bristol Parkway instead until around 16:00.
After 16:00, these trains will start/terminate at Newport instead; other train services will be running between Newport and Cardiff Central.
Replacement buses are planned between Bristol Parkway and Newport until around 15:00.
Track renewal work will affect all train services via Bedminster.
Replacement buses are planned between Bristol Temple Meads and Weston-super-Mare.
These rail replacement services will not stop at Bedminster or Parson Street – valid rail tickets will be accepted on local bus services instead.
GWR trains will still run between London Paddington and the south west via Taunton, plus between Weston-super-Mare and Exeter St Davids.
CrossCountry trains will use an alternative route between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton – extending journey times by up to an hour.
Valid rail tickets will also be accepted for travel on the following First West of England buses:
Bus number Route X1, X1S Weston-super-Mare – Worle – Nailsea & Backwell – Bristol bus station X5 Weston-super-Mare – Weston Milton – Worle X7, X7A, X9 Nailsea & Backwell – Bristol bus station X11 Weston-super-Mare – Weston Milton – Yatton 126 Weston-super-Mare – Weston Milton 24, 74 Bedminster – Bristol city centre 43, 75, 76, M1 Parson Street – Bedminster – Bristol city centre M2 Long Ashton Park & Ride – Bristol city centre 39, X39, 172, 349, 376, 522 Bristol bus station – Bristol Temple Meads 1, 2, 2A, 8, 72, 74 Bristol city centre – Bristol Temple Meads A1 (Airport Flyer) Bristol Temple Meads – Bedminster – Parson Street Track maintenance work will affect train services via Southampton Central.
Trains between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour will use an alternative route– stopping at Eastleigh instead of Southampton Central.
South Western Railway trains will run between Eastleigh and Southampton Central.
Track renewal work will affect all train services via Worcester Shrub Hill.
GWR trains will still run between London Paddington and Worcestershire Parkway, plus between Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester.
Replacement buses are planned between:
- Worcestershire Parkway and Great Malvern
- Gloucester and Worcester Foregate Street
West Midlands Trains will still run between Worcester Foregate Street and Hereford.
Track maintenance work will affect train services via Chippenham until 1100.
Trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads will use an alternative route – not stopping at Chippenham or Bath Spa.
Replacement buses are planned between Chippenham and Swindon, Bath Spa or Westbury.
Track renewal work will affect all train services between Bristol and Bath.
Hourly trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads will use an alternative route via Bristol Parkway – not stopping at Chippenham or Bath Spa.
Trains will also run every hour between London Paddington and Bath Spa via Chippenham.
Trains will still run between:
- Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central or Gloucester
- Bath Spa and Westbury, Portsmouth Harbour, Frome or Weymouth
Replacement buses are planned between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa.
Valid rail tickets will also be accepted for travel on the following First West of England buses:
Bus number Route 39, X39 Bristol city centre – Bath city centre 39, 349, 522 Bristol city centre – Keynsham 1, U3, 5, 5A Bath city centre – Oldfield Park Important to note
Replacement buses cannot stop near to Keynsham or Oldfield Park railway stations; instead, these buses will pick-up or drop-off at the following locations:
Keynsham
- Towards Bath Spa – bus stop on High Street (outside church)
- Towards Bristol Temple Meads – bus stop on Bristol Road (opposite church)
Oldfield Park
- Towards Bath Spa – bus stop (Bellots Road) on A36 Lower Bristol Road
- Towards Bristol Temple Meads – bus stop on A3604 Windsor Bridge Road
Yellow signage will be in place to direct customers between the station and the bus stops.
November
Track renewal work will affect all train services via Worcester Shrub Hill.
Replacement buses are planned between:
- Worcestershire Parkway and Great Malvern
- Gloucester and Worcester Foregate Street
GWR trains will still operate between London Paddington and Worcestershire Parkway, plus between Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester.
West Midlands Trains will still operate between Worcester Foregate Street and Hereford.
Bridge renewal work will affect all train services via Frome.
Replacement buses are planned between Westbury and Frome.
GWR trains between London Paddington and the South West or between Bristol Temple Meads and Weymouth will use an alternative route not stopping at Frome.
Some trains will operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury instead of Frome.
Signalling upgrade work will affect train services between Exmouth and Exeter Central.
Replacement buses are planned between Exmouth and Exeter St Davids.
GWR trains will still operate between Exeter Central and Paignton, Okehampton or Barnstaple.
South Western Railway trains will still operate between Exeter St Davids and Salisbury via Exeter Central.
Track renewal work will affect train services via Salisbury.
Weekends of 1/2 November and 22/23 November
Replacement buses are planned between Salisbury and Southampton Central.
GWR trains will operate between Cardiff Central and Salisbury, plus between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.
Weekend of 8/9 November
Replacement buses are planned between Warminster and Salisbury on Saturday or Southampton Central on Sunday.
GWR trains will operate between Cardiff Central and Warminster, plus between Salisbury and Portsmouth Harbour (Sat) or Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour (Sun).
Weekend 15/16 November
Replacement buses are planned between Salisbury and Southampton Central on Saturday or Warminster and Southampton Central on Sunday.
GWR trains will operate between Cardiff Central and Salisbury (Sat) or Warminster (Sun), plus between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.
South Western Railway trains will still operate between Romsey and Southampton Central on all dates.
Track renewal work will affect train services between via Wokingham.
Replacement buses are planned between Reading and Guildford.
GWR trains will still operate between Guildford and Redhill or Gatwick Airport.
South Western Railway trains will still operate between Bracknell and London Waterloo on Sunday 2 November, then between Staines and London Waterloo on Sunday 9 November.
SWR trains can operate between Reading and London Waterloo on Saturday 29 November, but only between Bracknell and London Waterloo on Sunday 30 November.
Track renewal work will also affect the number of train services able to operate between Redhill and Gatwick Airport on Sunday 30 November.
Important to note
Engineering work is also planned in the Guildford area on Sunday 16 November.
Signalling upgrade work linked to train service improvements will affect trains for Newquay.
Replacement buses are planned between St Austell and Newquay – stopping at all stations, plus some buses will run non-stop at peak periods.
Important to note
Most replacement transport will not stop at Par, for connections change at St Austell instead.
Trains services will still be operating at Par and St Austell towards Plymouth or Penzance.
Track renewal work will affect all train services between Banbury and Oxford.
Replacement buses are planned between stations impacted.
Signalling upgrade work will affect train services via Guildford.
GWR trains will still operate between Reading and Ash via North Camp with replacement buses planned between North Camp and Redhill/Gatwick Airport.
South Western Railway trains will still operate between Guildford and London Waterloo.
Southern trains will still operate between Reigate and Redhill, plus Southern and Thameslink trains will also be operating between Redhill and Gatwick Airport.
Structural works will affect all train services between Oxford and Didcot Parkway.
Replacement buses are planned between stations impacted.
GWR trains will still operate between Oxford and Worcester, Great Malvern or Hereford.
Chiltern Railways will still operate trains between Oxford and London Marylebone.
Buses replace CrossCountry train services between Didcot Parkway, Oxford and Banbury.
Signalling upgrade work will affect train services between Carmarthen and Llanelli.
Replacement buses are planned between Swansea and Carmarthen.
GWR trains will still operate between London Paddington and Swansea.
Important to note
On Sunday 16 November, engineering work is only planned to last until around 12:45.
New station construction work and track maintenance will affect some train services to/from London Paddington.
Trains will run to an amended timetable because only two out of four tracks will be available.
December
Track renewal work will affect train services between Truro and Penzance, plus trains between St Erth and St Ives.
Replacement buses are planned between Truro and Penzance.
Valid rail tickets will be accepted for travel between Penzance or St Erth and St Ives via Carbis Bay on the number 17/17A buses instead.
GWR trains will operate between Truro and Exeter St Davids or London Paddington via Plymouth, plus services between Truro and Falmouth Docks.
CrossCountry trains will only operate between Plymouth and the North of England via Birmingham New Street.
Important to note
The number 17/17A buses do not stop immediately outside Lelant Saltings, Lelant, or Carbis Bay railway stations, so please follow signs for directions.
- Signalling upgrade work will affect train services between Llanelli and Carmarthen until around 1230.
Replacement buses are planned between Swansea and Carmarthen.
GWR trains will still operate between London Paddington and Swansea. Structural work will affect train services between Guildford and Redhill.
Replacement buses are planned between Guildford and Gatwick Airport.
GWR trains will still operate between Reading and Guildford.
South Western Railway trains will still operate trains via Guildford.
Buses also replace Southern trains between Reigate and Redhill.
Track maintenance work will affect train services via Fareham.
Replacement buses are planned between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.
Trains will still operate between Cardiff Central and Southampton Central.
Track maintenance work will affect train services between Plymouth and Liskeard or Gunnislake until around 1100.
Replacement buses are planned between:
- Plymouth and Liskeard – not stopping at Menheniot
- Liskeard and Menheniot
- Plymouth and Calstock via Gunnislake
- Plymouth and Bere Ferrers via Bere Alston
GWR trains will operate between London Paddington and Plymouth, plus between Liskeard and Penzance as well as on Cornish branch lines, except the Tamar Valley Line.
CrossCountry trains will operate between Plymouth and the North of England or Scotland via Birmingham New Street.
Track drainage work will mean buses replace trains between Castle Cary and Taunton.
A limited number of trains will operate between London Paddington and Westbury or Castle Cary on weekdays, but not on Saturday or Sunday.
As a result, replacement buses are also planned at the weekend between Pewsey and Swindon for onward connections.
Trains between London Paddington and Plymouth or Penzance will use an alternative route between Reading and Taunton – extending journey times by at least 15 minutes.
GWR trains will still operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Weymouth via Castle Cary.
South Western Railway trains between Yeovil and Salisbury via Castle Cary are unaffected.
Track maintenance work will mean buses replace trains between Liskeard and Looe.
Replacement buses will stop in St Keyne village, instead of St Keyne Wishing Well Halt, and in Duloe village, instead of Causeland station.
These services will not stop to pick up or drop off at Coombe Junction Halt – contact GWR staff for assistance.
Important to note
Rail replacement services will not operate on Sunday 14 December.
Track maintenance work will mean buses replace trains between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth.
GWR trains will still operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Yeovil Pen Mill.
South Western Railway trains will still operate at Weymouth, Upwey and Dorchester South.
Track renewal work will mean buses replace trains between Cardiff Central and Bridgend.
Trains will still operate between London Paddington and Cardiff Central, plus between Bridgend and Swansea or Carmarthen.
Trains between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour via Bristol Temple Meads will be unaffected.
Track renewal work will affect some train services to/from London Paddington.
Trains will run to an amended timetable because only two out of four tracks will be available.
As a result, no direct train services will run between London Paddington and Cheltenham Spa – customers should change at Swindon or Bristol Parkway instead.
Sunday 4 January
Until around 11am, there will be no train services operating between Hayes & Harlington and Maidenhead.
Most GWR trains for London Paddington will start or terminate at Reading.
South Western Railway will be operating trains between London Waterloo and Reading, plus Chiltern Railways will operate trains between London Marylebone and Oxford.
Some GWR and Elizabeth Line trains will still operate between Reading and Maidenhead.
Elizabeth Line services will also be operating between Hayes & Harlington and London Paddington.
Buses replace trains between Maidenhead, Slough and Hayes & Harlington.
Train services between Slough and Windsor & Eton Central will be unaffected as will Heathrow Express services.
Looking ahead
Further rail improvement work is planned in the next few months affecting the following routes:
- St Erth to St Ives – Monday 5 to Sunday 18 January
- Port Talbot Parkway to Swansea – Monday 26 January to Thursday 5 February
- Didcot Parkway to Oxford – Sunday 1 to Sunday 8 February
- Plymouth to Totnes/Exeter St Davids – Saturday 21 February to Sunday 8 March
- Liskeard to Looe – Monday 23 February to Friday 6 March
- Yeovil Pen Mill to Weymouth – Saturday 28 February to Sunday 8 March
- Exeter St Davids to Okehampton/Barnstaple – Saturday 21 to Sunday 29 March
- Fareham to Portsmouth Harbour – Saturday 28 March to Thursday 2 April
Rail improvement work was due to take place affecting trains between Taunton and Exeter St Davids from Tuesday 4 to Thursday 6 November.
However, this planned engineering work has since been postponed by Network Rail until 2026 and a normal train service will operate instead.