Great Western Railway is reminding its passengers about upcoming engineering works which will affect journeys in the South West.
From Monday 18 February until Friday 8 March the route from Taunton to Exeter St Davids will be closed to rail traffic as Network Rail carries out maintenance work at Whiteball Tunnel.
More work at Marley Tunnel will mean that a reduced rail service will only be able to operate between Plymouth and Exeter St Davids.
Long distance services between the South West and London Paddington will be diverted around the work and will add up to 60 minutes to journey times, and replacement bus services will operate to intermediate stations.
For more information please visit www.GWR.com/SWupgrade
What did the officials say?
GWR Operations Director Rob Mullen said:
“We would like to thank passengers in advance for their patience, as Network Rail continues its Rail Upgrade Plan to maintain and modernise the railway in the South West.
“New Intercity Express Trains are already operating on the route, adding up to 24% more seats per train, and helping to improve punctuality. This work will ensure we can take advantage of the full benefit of these trains with a more resilient network.”
During the engineering works where trains are able to operate they may do so to a reduced and amended timetable and customers are advised to plan their journey in advance.
With more new Intercity Express Trains coming to the region older diesel stock is being replaced. Electric trains now operating in London and the Thames Valley also mean more modern diesel trains, and converted former High Speed Trains, serving local suburban routes in Devon and Cornwall adding better trains and more carriages where they are needed most.
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No more electric crap bringh back steam steam is what the people want
Less delays more scenic opertunities .
As least GWR aren’t going on strike and are to introduce more rail replacement buses. Plus will Network Rail keep on going with the extension of the electrification in South Wales to Cardiff and Swansea and the electrification to Oxford. Since Network Rail electrified the Newbury Line to Newbury which Class 387s are now operating as a shuttle service between Reading and Newbury.