Network Rail will be replacing track and upgrading points in the Reading area over the Easter weekend. This will mean that buses will replaced trains on some sections, and so passengers are urged to check before travelling.
Workers will be replacing track in the Reading West area and carrying out upgrades to the switches and crossings – equipment that enables trains to move between tracks.
Network Rail teams will also be carrying out work on structures between Reading and Westbury over the Easter period, including at Little Cheverell bridge near the village of Great Cheverell in Wiltshire. To facilitate this, a full road closure will be in place over the bridge from 10am on Monday 3 April to 8am on Tuesday 11 April.
The work is taking place over a public holiday because fewer people use the railway and so disruption is minimised.
Trains through Reading towards Bristol and South Wales will operate as planned, but buses will replace trains from Friday 7 April to Monday 10 April between:
- Reading and Bedwyn
- Pewsey and Swindon
- Reading and Basingstoke
Trains between London Paddington and the south west will take a different route between Reading and Taunton, which will extend journey times by approximately thirty minutes.
David Davison, Network Rail's Western route interim director said: “I would like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these vital upgrades in the Reading area this Easter bank holiday weekend.
“While most of our network will be up and running, there will be bus replacement services operating on some routes, while journeys between London and the south west will take longer, so please do check before travelling.
“We know that there's never a good time to close the railway and this engineering work has been planned for a bank holiday when fewer people are travelling by train so as to cause the least disruption to passengers. These upgrades will mean that passengers can continue to experience a safe and reliable railway into the future.”
GWR station manager for Reading Kevin King said: “Long distance trains through Reading will continue to operate very much as planned this Easter bank holiday weekend, however some of our local stopping services between Reading and Bedwyn, and Reading and Basingstoke, will not be able to operate while Network Rail carries out this improvement work.
“To keep people moving replacement bus services are being provided, however customers are reminded that journeys will take a little longer, so plan ahead accordingly.”
