Rail services through Somerset are back up and running as usual after engineers spent the Easter bank holiday weekend replacing old track, sleepers and ballast at East Somerset Junction, between Westbury and Taunton.
Network Rail engineers began work on Friday and worked through the Easter weekend, finishing a few hours ahead of schedule for services to resume on Monday morning.
With much of the old track dating back to the 1960s, 1.4km of rail was replaced along with 1,080 sleepers and 3,300 tonnes of ballast (track stone), to deliver smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers.
In the surrounding area, other teams took advantage of the closure of the railway to complete track and signal maintenance and inspections, along with vegetation management.
As the work took place, buses replaced trains between Westbury and Frome or Castle Cary, Taunton and Castle Cary, and between Swindon and Pewsey.
Planned follow up work takes place over the next two weekends, only affecting train services on the following dates:
- Sunday 12 April (until 3pm)
GWR trains will operate between Weymouth and Castle Cary until 1000, then between Weymouth and Frome until 1500.
Trains will operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury with through services for Weymouth resuming after 1500.
- Sunday 19 April
GWR trains will operate between Weymouth and Frome, plus between Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury all day.
Network Rail lead portfolio manager Mark Parker said:
“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience over the long weekend as we completed another essential upgrade over the Easter weekend, replacing track dating back to the 1960s with modern components that will help ensure continued safe and reliable train journeys for years to come.
“If you’re travelling over the next two Sundays, please make sure to check before you travel as some journeys will be affected by our planned follow-up work.”
Passengers are advised to check before they travel at nationalrail.co.uk or GWR.com/upgrade
Image credit: Network Rail
