GREAT Western Railway services will be affected by rail improvement work taking place this autumn between Worcestershire Parkway and Hereford.
Network Rail will replace track on the route which will affect services via Hereford, with additional rail improvement work also planned in the Worcester area over the next three weekends.
On Saturday September 7 trains will run between London Paddington and Great Malvern.
On Sunday September 8 trains will operate between London Paddington and Worcestershire Parkway, plus between Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester.
CrossCountry train services will still run between Worcestershire Parkway, Ashchurch for Tewkesbury, Cheltenham Spa and Gloucester.
West Midlands Railway services will run between Birmingham New Street and Great Malvern via Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill.
Replacement buses are planned between Great Malvern and Hereford on both days and Worcestershire Parkway and Great Malvern, Hereford, Gloucester and Worcester Foregate Street are planned on Sunday.
Billy White, GWR Station Manager for Oxford, Didcot and North Cotswolds, said: “This improvement work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance, helping to ensure we can continue to provide consistent and reliable services.
“Rail replacement services will be provided over the next three weekends where we are not able to operate trains.
“However, these alternative travel arrangements may make journeys longer so please check before you travel.”
Clarisse Grother, Network Rail’s senior programme manager, added: “We’re grateful to passengers and to residents who live close to the railway for their patience during this engineering work, which will take place over the next three weekends.
“This vital maintenance will enable the continued safe and reliable running of the railway. Passengers are advised to check before travelling as buses will replace trains for some journeys.”
The following weekend, trains will run between London Paddington and Great Malvern.
West Midlands Railway services will also run between Birmingham New Street and Great Malvern via Worcester Foregate Street and Worcester Shrub Hill.
Replacement buses are planned between Great Malvern and Hereford.
On the weekend of September 21 trains will run between London Paddington and Worcester Shrub Hill.
Replacement buses are planned between Worcester Shrub Hill and Great Malvern and Hereford.
Buses also replace trains between Gloucester and Bristol Parkway from midday on Saturday 21 September and all day on Sunday 22 September
Visit GWR.com/Upgrade for more information.
