Passengers are being reminded to check before travelling this Easter weekend as Network Rail delivers vital upgrades and track renewals to improve train performance and reliability.
Though most of the network will be open for business as usual over the Easter bank holiday weekend, some journeys will be affected, so passengers are advised to plan their journey in advance using National Rail Enquiries or their train operator’s website: GWR, TfL.
The key pieces of work taking place on the Western route are:
Maidenhead to Bourne End/Marlow
Network Rail will be renewing the track between Maidenhead and Bourne End/Marlow until Sunday 20 April. This work began on Saturday 12th April. During this time, no trains will run and a rail replacement bus service will be in operation.
While the line is closed to upgrade the track, engineers will also upgrade the existing signalling equipment, making the railway in the area more resilient.
Acton East to London Paddington
From Friday 18 April to Monday 21 April engineers will be carrying out upgrades to the switches and crossings in the Acton East area – rail equipment that enables trains to move between tracks. These upgrades will improve the safety and reliability of the line.
Network Rail will also be continuing work that’s needed to bring trains in the future to HS2’s Old Oak Common station in west London, with a focus on installing drainage, and the overhead line equipment that power trains.
During this period, trains will be running to a reduced timetable between Reading and London Paddington – affecting GWR, Heathrow Express, and Elizabeth line services.
Frome
All trains to and from Frome will be affected by engineering work taking place from 10pm on Saturday 19 April to 10pm on Monday 21 April, as Network Rail carries out vital track maintenance to enhance safety and reliability.
Trains between London and the south west, and trains between Westbury and Weymouth, will not stop at Frome and will instead use an alternative route.
A rail replacement service will operate between Frome and Westbury.
Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western route director, said:
“I would like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these vital upgrades over the Easter break.
“While most of our network will be up and running, there will be bus replacement services operating in some areas, 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 time when fewer people are travelling by train to reduce disruption. These upgrades will mean that passengers can continue to experience a safe and reliable railway into the future.”
Mian Sarwar, GWR station manager for Slough & Maidenhead, said:
“This improvement work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance, helping to ensure we continue to provide consistent and reliable services.
“GWR will provide replacement bus services between Maidenhead, Bourne End and Marlow from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 April.
“Further works in the Acton area will also mean that we are able to run less services than normal, and these trains are likely to be much busier.
“As an alternative, season tickets will also be valid for journeys on the line between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford for onward connections.
“Season tickets will also be valid with Chiltern Railways between High Wycombe and London Marylebone as well as London Underground services between Marylebone and Paddington.
“It’s important that customers are aware that these alternative travel arrangements will make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead.”
Howard Smith, director of the Elizabeth line, said:
“These essential engineering and maintenance works along the western route of the Elizabeth line will enhance the safety and reliability of the track so that we can continue to operate the best service possible.
“During this time, Elizabeth line services in the west will be running on a reduced timetable. We encourage customers to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys, and check before they travel using our website or the TfL Go app.”
Image credit: Network Rail
