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Bank Holiday Information: Great Western Railway

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Early May Bank Holiday Travel Advice

Saturday 2 May

Changes to services between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads

Due to engineering work closing the line between Chippenham and Bath Spa, the following amended service will operate in both directions:

  • London Paddington - Bath Spa (trains will run via a diversionary route between Swindon, Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa)

  • London Paddington - Swindon - Chippenham. Replacement buses will run between Chippenham and Bath Spa

Changes to services between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour

Due to engineering work closing the line between Bath Spa and Freshford, trains will operate between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa (with most calling additionally at Keynsham and Oldfield Park), then between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour. Rail replacement buses will run between Bath Spa and Westbury, and between Bath Spa and Bradford-on-Avon.

Late night service changes between Didcot Parkway and Oxford

Due to late night engineering work the following service changes will be made:

  • 22:04 Banbury to Didcot Parkway service will terminate at Oxford. Road transport will run at 22:45 from Oxford to Didcot Parkway, calling at all stations

  • 22:45 Didcot Parkway to Oxford train service will not run, and will be replaced by road transport from Didcot Parkway to Oxford, calling at all stations

  • 22:50 London Paddington to Oxford service will terminate at Didcot Parkway. Road transport will run from Didcot Parkway to Oxford, taking 30 minutes

  • 23:00 Oxford to London Paddington service will start at Didcot Parkway at 23:52. Road transport will run at 23:05 from Oxford to Didcot Parkway to connect with the train

  • 23:20 Didcot Parkway to Oxford service will not run. You should travel by earlier or later services

  • 23:33 (departing 23:32) London Paddington to Oxford service will terminate at Didcot Parkway. Road transport will run from Didcot Parkway to Oxford, taking 30 minutes

Late night service changes at Burnham and Taplow

Due to late night engineering work, the 23:45 Didcot Parkway to Ealing Broadway and 00:34 (Sunday) London Paddington to Reading trains will be unable to call at Burnham or Taplow. Connecting buses will run between Slough, Burnham and Taplow.

Minor change to 23:45 London Paddington to Reading service

Due to engineering work, the 23:45 London Paddington to Reading will depart earlier at 23:44.

Sunday 3 May

Changes to services between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads

Due to engineering work closing the line between Chippenham and Bath Spa, the following amended service will operate in both directions:

  • London Paddington - Bath Spa (trains will run via a diversionary route between Swindon, Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa)

  • London Paddington - Swindon - Chippenham. Replacement buses will run between Chippenham and Bath Spa

Changes to services between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour

Due to engineering work closing the line between Bath Spa and Freshford, trains will operate between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa (with most calling additionally at Keynsham and Oldfield Park), then between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour. Rail replacement buses will run between Bath Spa and Westbury, and between Bath Spa and Bradford-on-Avon.

Until 07:30: Early morning changes between London Paddington and Reading

Due to early morning engineering work the following service changes will be made:

  • 06:20 Reading to London Paddington will depart later at 06:40, and will run later than normal throughout

  • 06:38 London Paddington to Reading will not run. You should instead travel by later Great Western Railway services

Some early morning trains will be re-timed to depart earlier from London Paddington

A small number of Sunday early morning trains will depart from London Paddington earlier than normal:

  • 08:04 London Paddington to Penzance will depart at 07:49

  • 08:44 London Paddington to Penzance will depart at 08:30

  • 08:33 London Paddington to Swansea will depart at 08:28

  • 08:36 London Paddington to Didcot Parkway will depart at 08:32

  • O8:47 London Paddington to Great Malvern will depart at 08:43

Late night service changes between Cardiff Central and Bridgend

Due to late night engineering work, the 20:45 and 21:45 London Paddington to Swansea services will divert between Cardiff Central and Bridgend, departing Bridgend and beyond approximately 25 minutes later than normal.

Amended 07:54 Oxford to London Paddington service

Due to early morning engineering work, the 07:54 Oxford to London Paddington train will start from Didcot Parkway. Customers from Oxford should travel by later services.

Early morning and late night trains will not stop at Burnham

Due to early morning and late night engineering work, the following trains will not call at Burnham. Connecting buses will run between Slough and Burnham:

  • 06:40 Reading to London Paddington

  • 07:42 Reading to London Paddington

  • 23:31 London Paddington to Didcot Parkway

  • 23:52 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington

Monday 4 May - Early May Bank Holiday

Changes to Great Western Railway services on Early May Bank Holiday Monday

As a result of the Bank Holiday, some peak time trains will not run on Monday 4 May.

In addition, the 06:00 London Paddington to Penzance will start from Bristol Temple Meads, and the 18:08 London Paddington to Frome will terminate Newbury.

Maidenhead - Marlow trains will operate hourly throughout the day.

Changes to services between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads

Due to engineering work closing the line between Chippenham and Bath Spa, the following amended service will operate in both directions:

  • London Paddington - Bath Spa (trains will run via a diversionary route between Swindon, Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa)

  • London Paddington - Swindon - Chippenham. Replacement buses will run between Chippenham and Bath Spa

Changes to services between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour

Due to engineering work closing the line between Bath Spa and Freshford, trains will operate between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa (with most calling additionally at Keynsham and Oldfield Park), then between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour. Rail replacement buses will run between Bath Spa and Westbury, and between Bath Spa and Bradford-on-Avon.

Cancelled 03:46 Swansea to London Paddington service

Due to early morning engineering work, the 03:46 Swansea to London Paddington service will not run. You should travel on later train services instead.

Cancelled 05:10 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington service

Due to early morning engineering work, the 05:10 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington service will not run. You should travel on later train services instead.

Cancelled 05:31 Bedwyn to London Paddington service

Due to early morning engineering work, the 05:31 Bedwyn to London Paddington service will not run. You should travel on later train services instead.

Late night service changes between Cardiff Central and Bridgend

Due to late night engineering work, the 20:48, 21:48 and 22:49 London Paddington to Swansea services will divert between Cardiff Central and Bridgend, departing Bridgend and beyond later than normal.

Late night changes to services at Pangbourne

Due to late night engineering work, the 22:36 and 23:37 London Paddington to Didcot Parkway services, and the 23:26 Didcot Parkway to London Paddington service will not call at Pangbourne. Replacement buses will run between Tilehurst and Pangbourne, connecting with train services.

After 23:00: Late night engineering work between London Paddington and Reading

Due to late night engineering work, the following trains will be retimed:

  • 17:50 Penzance to London Paddington will arrive London Paddington a few minutes later than normal

  • 20:23 Swansea to London Paddington will arrive London Paddington a few minutes later than normal

  • 20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington will arrive London Paddington a few minutes later than normal

  • 22:40 Reading to London Paddington will arrive London Paddington a few minutes later than normal

  • 23:14 London Paddington to Oxford will depart later than normal at 23:16

Amended 22:30 London Paddington to Bedwyn service

Due to engineering work, the 22:30 London Paddington to Bedwyn train will start from Reading. Customers from London Paddington should travel using the 22:28 (departing 22:30) London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads train as far as Reading to connect into the train.

Late May Bank Holiday Travel Advice

Saturday 23 May

Amended services due to Severn Tunnel closure

Due to engineering work closing the Severn Tunnel in both directions, the following amended train services will operate:

  • London Paddington - Swansea (and beyond) via Cardiff Central: Trains will run hourly and will be diverted between Swindon and Newport via Gloucester. They will depart London Paddington, Reading and Swindon much earlier than normal. They will not call at Bristol Parkway

  • London Paddington - Cardiff Central: The trains that normally run between these stations will not run

  • London Paddington - Bristol Parkway: Trains will run approximately 2 hourly. Otherwise Bristol Parkway customers should travel via Bristol Temple Meads for connecting rail services

  • Cardiff Central - Taunton / Exeter St Davids: Trains will run between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton / Exeter St Davids only

  • Bristol Temple Meads - Filton Abbey Wood: Local stopping trains will not run

  • Bristol Parkway - Portsmouth Harbour: Most trains will call additionally at Ashley Down, Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill

  • Bristol Parkway - Newport (South Wales): Buses will replace trains as the line will be closed. A mixture of fast buses that take 50 minutes, and buses stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction and Patchway, will be running

Changes to afternoon trains between Avonmouth and Bristol Temple Meads

Due to engineering work, the following service changes will be made:

  • 14:12 Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth will not run

  • 14:46 Avonmouth to Weston-super-Mare train will start from Bristol Temple Meads at normal time

  • 15:01 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads will depart earlier at 14:47, St Andrews Road at 14:53 and arrive at Avonmouth 14:57. Normal timings departing Avonmouth and beyond

Very early morning service changes at Burnham and Taplow

Due to very early Saturday morning engineering work, the following trains will not call at Burnham or Taplow:

  • 00:01 London Paddington to Reading

  • 00:21 Reading to London Paddington

  • 00:49 London Paddington to Reading

Replacement buses will run between Slough and Burnham / Taplow.

Late night changes to services between Westbury and Frome

Due to late night engineering work between Westbury and Castle Cary, the following service changes will be made:

  • 22:15 and 23:06 Bristol Temple Meads to Frome services will terminate at Westbury. Replacement buses will run between Westbury and Frome

  • 23:16 Frome to Westbury service will not run and will be replaced by a bus at 23:37 from Frome to Westbury taking 20 minutes

Sunday 24 May

Amended services due to Severn Tunnel closure

Due to engineering work closing the Severn Tunnel in both directions, the following amended train services will operate:

  • London Paddington - Swansea (and beyond) via Cardiff Central: Trains will run hourly and will be diverted between Swindon and Newport via Gloucester. They will depart London Paddington, Reading and Swindon much earlier than normal. They will not call at Bristol Parkway

  • London Paddington - Cardiff Central: The trains that normally run between these stations will not run

  • London Paddington - Bristol Parkway: Trains will run approximately 2 hourly. Otherwise Bristol Parkway customers should travel via Bristol Temple Meads for connecting rail services

  • Cardiff Central - Taunton / Exeter St Davids: Trains will run between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton / Exeter St Davids only

  • Bristol Temple Meads - Filton Abbey Wood: Local stopping trains will not run

  • Bristol Parkway - Portsmouth Harbour: Most trains will call additionally at Ashley Down, Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill

  • Bristol Parkway - Newport (South Wales): Buses will replace trains as the line will be closed. A mixture of fast buses that take 50 minutes, and buses stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction and Patchway, will be running

Early morning changes to trains through Chippenham

Due to early morning engineering work, the following service changes will be made:

08:06 Warminster to Swindon train will not run and will be part replaced by an earlier rail replacement bus departing at 07:45 from Warminster, calling at Dilton Marsh, Westbury, Trowbridge and Melksham to Chippenham. Rail connections available between Chippenham and Swindon.

09:08 Swindon to Westbury train will start from Chippenham. There will be no connection from Swindon into this train. However, earlier rail connections are available from Swindon to Chippenham to connect into a replacement bus which will depart at 09:45 from Chippenham dropping off only at Melksham, Trowbridge and Westbury.

Until 16:00: Amended London Paddington to Didcot Parkway service

Due to engineering work, until 16:00 trains that run between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway will operate between Reading and Didcot Parkway only. Trains between London Paddington and Swindon (and beyond) will call additionally at Slough, Maidenhead and Twyford.

Late night service changes between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour

Due to late night engineering work between Cosham and Portsmouth Harbour the following service changes will be made:

  • 19:34 Bristol Temple Meads to Portsmouth Harbour will terminate at Southampton Central. Rail connections are available from Southampton Central to Fareham, Fratton, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour

  • 19:45 Bristol Parkway to Portsmouth Harbour (the amended 19:25 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour service) will terminate at Southampton Central. Rail connections are available from Southampton Central to Fareham, Fratton, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour

  • 20:30 Cardiff Central to Portsmouth Harbour will terminate Fareham. Rail connections are available from Fareham to Fratton, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour

Monday 25 May - Late May Bank Holiday

Changes to Great Western Railway services on Late May Bank Holiday Monday

As a result of the Bank Holiday, some peak time trains will not run on Monday 25 May.

In addition, the 06:00 London Paddington to Penzance will start from Bristol Temple Meads, and the 18:08 London Paddington to Frome will terminate Newbury.

Amended services due to Severn Tunnel closure

Due to engineering work closing the Severn Tunnel in both directions, the following amended train services will operate:

  • London Paddington - Swansea (and beyond) via Cardiff Central: Trains will run hourly and will be diverted between Swindon and Newport via Gloucester. They will depart London Paddington, Reading and Swindon much earlier than normal. They will not call at Bristol Parkway

  • London Paddington - Cardiff Central: The trains that normally run between these stations will not run

  • London Paddington - Bristol Parkway: Trains will run approximately 2 hourly. Otherwise Bristol Parkway customers should travel via Bristol Temple Meads for connecting rail services

  • Cardiff Central - Taunton / Exeter St Davids: Trains will run between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton / Exeter St Davids only

  • Bristol Temple Meads - Filton Abbey Wood: Local stopping trains will not run

  • Bristol Parkway - Portsmouth Harbour: Most trains will call additionally at Ashley Down, Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill

  • Bristol Parkway - Newport (South Wales): Buses will replace trains as the line will be closed. A mixture of fast buses that take 50 minutes, and buses stopping at Severn Tunnel Junction and Patchway, will be running

Until 06:45: Service changes between Westbury and Castle Cary

Due to early Monday morning engineering work closing lines between Westbury and Castle Cary the following service changes will be made:

  • 05:10 Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington (via Newbury) will not run, you should travel using later services

  • 05:31 Bedwyn to London Paddington will not run. You should travel using later services

  • 06:12 Frome to London Paddington will start from Westbury

  • 06:18 Yeovil Pen Mill to Gloucester will start from Bristol Temple Meads

  • 06:25 Westbury to Frome will depart at 06:30

  • 06:42 Frome to Cardiff Central (diverting to terminate at Bristol Parkway) will depart at 06:43

Buses will be replacing trains between Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour

Due to engineering work, buses will replace trains all day between Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour.

However please note, the 20:30 Cardiff Central (starting Bristol Parkway) to Portsmouth Harbour will terminate at Southampton Central. Customers for Fareham, Fratton, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour should travel by earlier or later services.

Changes to afternoon trains between Avonmouth and Bristol Temple Meads

Due to engineering work, the following service changes will be made:

  • 14:01 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads will depart Clifton Down and beyond a few minutes later than normal

  • 14:12 Bristol Temple Meads to Avonmouth will not run

  • 14:46 Avonmouth to Weston-super-Mare train will start from Bristol Temple Meads

  • 15:01 Severn Beach to Bristol Temple Meads will depart earlier at 14:47, St Andrews Road at 14:53 and arrive at Avonmouth 14:57. Normal timings departing Avonmouth and beyond

Some late night trains will be retimed at London Paddington

Due to late night engineering work at London Paddington, the following trains will be retimed:

  • 20:56 Worcester Foregate Street to London Paddington will arrive London Paddington a few minutes later than normal

  • 22:40 Reading to London Paddington will arrive London Paddington a few minutes later than normal

  • 23:14 London Paddington to Oxford will depart later at 23:16

Late night service changes through Taunton

Due to late night engineering work in the Taunton area, the following service changes will be made:

  • 23:05 Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter St Davids will terminate Taunton. This train connects at Taunton into the 23:48 bus below

  • 23:45 London Paddington to Penzance “Night Riviera” Sleeper service will divert between Reading and Exeter St Davids (via Honiton – not calling). It will not call at Taunton - customers for Taunton are advised to travel by earlier services. The train will arrive at Exeter St Davids approximately 20 minutes earlier than normal. Normal timings departing Exeter St Davids and beyond

  • 23:48 Bristol Temple Meads to Exeter St Davids train will not run and will be replaced by a bus at
    23:48 from Bristol Temple Meads dropping off only at Nailsea & Backwell, Yatton, Worle, Weston-super-Mare,
    Highbridge & Burnham and Bridgwater, then Taunton, and then dropping off only at Tiverton Parkway and Exeter St Davids

  • 21:45 Penzance to London Paddington “Night Riviera” Sleeper service will depart will depart Exeter St Davids approximately 15 minutes later than normal and will divert between there and Reading (via Honiton – not calling). It will not call at Taunton - customers for Taunton are advised to travel by earlier services

Late night service changes between Cardiff Central and Bridgend

Late night services already disrupted due to the closure of the Severn Tunnel will be further amended due to engineering work between Cardiff Central and Bridgend. The following trains will be affected:

20:48 (departing earlier at 20:12) London Paddington to Swansea service will divert between Cardiff Central and Bridgend (via Ninian Park – not calling) arriving and departing Bridgend and beyond later than normal

21:48 (departing earlier at 21:12) London Paddington to Swansea service will divert between Cardiff Central and Bridgend (via Ninian Park – not calling)

22:49 London Paddington to Swansea service will be diverted between Swindon and Newport and will connect with a replacement bus at Swindon to Bristol Temple Meads, calling at Chippenham and Bath Spa (drop off only). The train will further divert between Cardiff Central and Bridgend (via Ninian Park – not calling) arriving and departing Bridgend and beyond later than normal.

Amended 23:32 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads service

Due to overnight engineering work, the 23:32 London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads train will divert between Reading and Bath Spa (via Newbury – not calling). It will not call at Didcot Parkway, Swindon and Chippenham. Customers for Didcot Parkway should travel by the 23:14 (departing 23:16) London Paddington to Oxford service which will call at Didcot Parkway. A replacement bus will connect out of this train at Didcot Parkway for Swindon and Chippenham.

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