Planned Engineering Work and Disruption

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.

Important to note

Details below may be subject to alteration due to planned industrial action – for the latest information visit GWR.com/strike.

Normally replacement road transport will be provided to replace trains where these services are unable to operate.

Due to a nationwide shortage of qualified bus or coach drivers, there may be fewer replacement bus services running than planned.

If this should be the case, we will provide alternative travel options for customers to complete their journeys. Details will be provided in the sections below.

Timetable changes

The following planned engineering work may affect your journey:

Summary of upcoming changes to train times
Saturday 21 to Friday 27 January 2023 (PDF, 117 KB)
Saturday 28 January to Friday 3 February 2023 (PDF, 128 KB)
Saturday 4 to Friday 10 February 2023 (PDF, 123 KB)
Saturday 11 to Friday 17 February 2023 (PDF, 126 KB)
Saturday 18 to Friday 24 February 2023 (PDF, 129 KB)
Saturday 25 February to Friday 3 March 2023 (PDF, 129 KB)
Saturday 4 to Friday 10 March 2023 (PDF, 124 KB)

2023

January

Reading to Guildford – Sunday 8 January, plus weekends of 21/22 and 28/29 January

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Reading and Guildford.
Bath Spa to Bristol Temple Meads – weekends of 14/15, 21/22 and 28/29 January

Rail improvement work will mean no trains will stop at Oldfield Park or Keynsham.

Find out more about upgrades in the Bristol area.
Port Talbot to Swansea – weekends of 14/15 and 28/29 January
Rail improvement work will affect trains between Port Talbot Parkway and Swansea.

Additional work will also affect train services between Cardiff Central and Port Talbot Parkway on the following dates:
- Sunday 15 January (until midday)
- Sunday 29 January (all day)
Cheltenham area – weekends of 14/15 and 21/22 January, plus Sunday 29 January

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Gloucester and Worcester Shrub Hill.
Par to Newquay – Friday 27 to Monday 30 January

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Par and Newquay.

Replacement buses are planned to run between St Austell and Newquay. Customers for Par should use train services between Par and St Austell.

February

Swindon area – Sunday 5 and Saturday 11 February
Rail improvement work will affect trains between Swindon and Didcot Parkway, Bath Spa, or Bristol Parkway.

Trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads will use a different route not stopping at Didcot Parkway, Swindon, or Chippenham.

Trains between London Paddington and Swansea will also use a different route not stopping at Swindon on either days, or at Bristol Parkway on Sunday 5 February.

These train services between London and South Wales will stop additionally at Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads, plus Patchway instead of Bristol Parkway (Sun 5 Feb only).

Trains between London Paddington and Cheltenham Spa will be replaced by shuttle train services running between Swindon and Cheltenham Spa.

Replacement buses are planned to run between Swindon and:
- Didcot Parkway
- Reading (non-stop)
- Bath Spa (non-stop and stopping at Chippenham)
- Bristol Parkway (extending to Patchway on Sun 5 Feb)
In addition, replacement buses are also planned to run between Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury.

See below for more information about services via Bristol Parkway on Sunday 5 February.
Bristol Parkway – Sunday 5 February

Rail improvement work will mean no trains will stop at Bristol Parkway, Yate or Cam & Dursley.

For more information visit our Bristol upgrades page.
Portsmouth area – Sunday 5 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour.

For more information visit our Wessex upgrades page.
Salisbury area – Weekend of 11/12 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Salisbury and Southampton Central.

For more information visit our Wessex upgrades page.
Swansea to Carmarthen – Sunday 12 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Swansea and Carmarthen.
North Downs line – Sunday 12 to Friday 17 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains for Guildford between Ash and Shalford on Sunday 12 February.

Train services between Reading and Guildford will then be affected by further rail improvement work from Monday 13 until Friday 17 February.

Find out more about rail improvement work on the North Downs line (PDF, 180 KB).
Newbury area – Saturday 18 February to Thursday 2 March
Rail improvement work will affect trains between Reading and Westbury.

Trains between London Paddington and Devon/Cornwall will continue to run using an alternative route via Swindon.

Buses are planned to replace trains between:
- Theale and Bedwyn (Weekdays until 20:00 and all day on Saturdays)
- Reading and Bedwyn (Weekdays after 20:00 and all day on Sundays)
- Pewsey and Swindon (all dates)
- Chippenham and Westbury (Monday to Fridays – off-peak services only)
Find out more about upgrades in Newbury.
Southampton area – Weekend of 18/19 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Romsey and Southampton Central.

For more information visit our Wessex upgrades page.
Cheltenham area – Sunday 19 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Gloucester and Worcester.
North Downs line – Sunday 19 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Guildford and Redhill or Gatwick Airport.
Chippenham to Westbury – Monday 20 February to Thursday 2 March

Rail improvement work in the Newbury area will affect trains between Chippenham and Westbury.

Trains will still operate at peak times on weekdays and all day at weekends. Otherwise, buses are planned to replace trains.

Find out more about upgrades in Newbury.
North Devon area – Monday 20 to Friday 24 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Exeter St Davids and Okehampton/Barnstaple.
North Downs line – Weekend of 25/26 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Reading and Guildford.
Swansea to Carmarthen – Sunday 26 February

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Swansea and Carmarthen.
Yeovil area – Monday 27 February to Friday 3 March

Rail improvement work will affect train services between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth.

Further rail improvement will also affect trains from Monday 6 to Friday 10 March.

For more information visit our Wessex upgrades page.

March

North Downs line – weekend of 4/5 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Reading and Guildford.

Buses are planned to replace train services.

Trains will still run between Guildford and Gatwick Airport.
Warminster area – weekend of 4/5 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Warminster and Salisbury.

Planned engineering work also affects trains between Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour on Sunday.

Buses are planned to replace train services.

Trains will still run between Salisbury and Portsmouth Harbour on Saturday or between Salisbury and Portsmouth & Southsea on Sunday.
Swansea to Carmarthen – weekend of 4/5 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Swansea and Carmarthen.

Buses are planned to replace train services.
Newbury area – Sunday 5 March
Rail improvement work will affect trains between Reading and Westbury.

Trains between London and the South West will use an alternative route via Swindon.

Buses are planned to replace train services between:
- Reading and Bedwyn
- Pewsey and Swindon
Yeovil area – Monday 6 to Friday 10 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Castle Cary and Weymouth on Monday and Tuesday.

Planned engineering work also affects trains between Yeovil Pen Mill and Weymouth from Wednesday to Friday.

Buses are planned to replace train services.

For more information visit our Wessex upgrades page.
Newbury area – weekend of 11/12 March
Rail improvement work will affect trains between Reading and Westbury.

Trains between London and the South West will use an alternative route via Swindon.

Buses are planned to replace train services on Saturday between:
- Theale and Thatcham/Newbury
- Newbury and Bedwyn
- Pewsey and Swindon
Buses are planned to replace train services on Sunday between:
- Reading and Bedwyn
- Pewsey and Swindon
Southampton area – weekend of 11/12 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.

Buses are planned to replace train services.
Swansea to Carmarthen – weekend of 11/12 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Swansea and Carmarthen.

Buses are planned to replace train services.
North Downs line – Sunday 12 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Guildford and Redhill or Gatwick Airport.

Buses are planned to replace train services.

Trains will still run between Reading and Guildford.
Newton Abbot area – weekend of 18/19 March
Rail improvement work will affect trains between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot all weekend, plus between Newton Abbot and Plymouth until 16:30 on Sunday.

Trains will run between London Paddington and Exeter St Davids, stopping at Tiverton Parkway.

Buses are planned to replace train services between:
- Tiverton Parkway and Plymouth (non-stop)
- Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot (non-stop and stopping at all stations)
Buses are also planned between Exeter St Davids, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Ivybridge and Plymouth on Sunday up until 16:30.

Trains will be running between:
- Penzance and Plymouth (extending to Newton Abbot after 16:30 on Sunday)
- Exeter St Davids and Exmouth
Trains also run between Newton Abbot and Paignton on Saturday only.

Tickets will be accepted on local bus services between Newton Abbot and Paignton on Sunday.
Salisbury area – weekend of 18/19 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Warminster and Salisbury.

Buses are planned to replace train services.

Trains will be running between Salisbury and Portsmouth Harbour.
Swansea to Carmarthen – weekend of 18/19 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Swansea and Carmarthen.

Buses are planned to replace train services.
Reading area – Sunday 19 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Reading and Basingstoke.

Buses are planned to replace train services.
Taunton area – Monday 20 to Thursday 23 March
Rail improvement work will affect trains between Taunton and Tiverton Parkway, Castle Cary or Weston-super-Mare.

Trains between London and the South West will use a different route between Castle Cary and Exeter St Davids – not stopping at Taunton or Tiverton Parkway.

Other Great Western Railway train services will start/terminate at Castle Cary, Exeter St Davids or Weston-super-Mare.

Buses are planned to replace train services between Taunton and:
- Castle Cary
- Tiverton Parkway
- Exeter St Davids (non-stop)
- Weston-super-Mare (both non-stop and stopping at all stations)
CrossCountry trains will run a shuttle train service between Tiverton Parkway and Plymouth with replacement buses between Bristol Parkway and Taunton or Tiverton Parkway.
Swansea to Carmarthen Saturday 25 to Monday 27 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Swansea and Carmarthen.

Buses are planned to replace train services.
Oxford area – Sunday 26 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Didcot Parkway and Oxford.

Buses are planned to replace train services.

Trains will be running between Oxford and Worcester, Great Malvern or Hereford.
North Downs line – Sunday 26 March

Rail improvement work will affect trains between Guildford and Redhill or Gatwick Airport.

Buses are planned to replace train services.

Trains will still run between Reading and Guildford.
East Cornwall – Monday 27 to Friday 31 March
Rail improvement work will affect trains between Liskeard and Par.

Most trains will start/terminate at Plymouth with shuttle trains running between Plymouth and Liskeard, plus between Par and Penzance.

Buses are planned to replace train services between:
- Plymouth and St Austell (non-stop)
- Liskeard and St Austell (stopping at all stations)
Trains will still run between Par and Newquay.

Looking ahead

Further rail improvement work is planned in the next few months affecting the following routes:

Reading to Westbury/Basingstoke – Friday 7 to Monday 10 April
Westbury to Taunton – Sunday 30 April to Wednesday 3 May
Gloucester to Worcester – Weekends of 6/7, 13/14 and 20/21 May
Bristol Parkway to Newport – Friday 9 to Sunday 18 June
Newport to Cardiff Central – weekend of 10/11 June

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Refunds and compensation

You may be able to get your money back if you bought a ticket but did not travel, or were delayed by 15 minutes or more.

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