Train passengers advised to travel after midday on Easter Sunday
Passengers are being advised not to travel by train this Sunday morning as emergency engineering work by Network Rail will all but stop trains from being able to run from London Paddington.
Repairs need to be undertaken to sets of points over Saturday night and Sunday morning to prevent further disruption affecting more passengers after the weekend.
The Network Rail work is due to be completed to allow trains to run from midday. Customers expecting to travel in the morning are being urged to delay their journey or travel via alternative routes – via South Western Railway services from Waterloo to Reading, or via Chiltern Railway services from Marylebone towards Oxford. These trains are, expected to be extremely busy.
Richard Rowland, Great Western Railway Operations Director, said:
“Please do delay your journey on Sunday morning. Unfortunately, Network Rail need to undertake some emergency repair work, and if they don’t doit this weekend, it will mean more disruption to services in the future.
“We’re really sorry for any inconvenience caused.”
Trains will continue to operate between Reading and Bristol, South Wales, and Devon and Cornwall. However, there may be short-notice changes and cancellations, and customers are advised to check their journeys beforehand.
Network Rail Western route director Marcus Jones said:
“We’re sorry to passengers whose journeys will be affected by essential work outside London Paddington this weekend to repair a track fault. There is never a good time to disrupt the railway but this emergency work will help to reduce line closures and speed restrictions in the future. We advise people to check with their train operator before they travel.”
There will also be a small number of changes to late-night trains on Saturday evening and those looking to take the last train home are advised to check before they travel.
Customers who purchased tickets but do not travel can claim a full refund or change their ticket. Those who travel and are delayed may be entitled to Delay Repay compensation if they are delayed by 15 minutes or more.
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Notes to editors
Notes to editors
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us