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Tuesday 28 Jan 2025

Passengers in Somerset reminded to check before travelling ahead of early February engineering work

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Passengers are being urged to check before they travel between Taunton and Weston-super-Mare during the first week of February as Network Rail carries out essential structural repairs to a number of bridges, as well as vital track drainage work.

From Monday 3 to Friday 7 February, no trains will run between Taunton and Weston-super-Mare, with replacement buses in operation instead.

Trains will still run between Taunton, the south west and London Paddington. Passengers will be able to catch trains between Weston-super-Mare and Paddington or Cardiff via Bristol Temple Meads. Some trains between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads will use an alternative route, which will extend journey times by up to an hour.

Throughout the five-day period, engineers will carry out repairs on four bridges in Somerset, ranging from fairly light touch refurbishments to more extensive renovations.

River Brue bridge requires the most work, with the track over the top be removed so that the bridge deck can be fully replaced. Steel and masonry repairs will be completed, along with waterproofing and drainage work, before the track is relayed.

The Middle Drove bridge will also see masonry repairs and a full replacement of the bridge span, with new sections lifted into place by crane.

Track drainage is being fully replaced at Uphill and Dunball with the installation of new pipes and inspection chambers, and surveys and inspections will be completed in the Highbridge and Burnham area.

Follow up work will be taking place to the Middle Drove and River Brue bridges until 24 June. A full road closure will be in place on Accommodation Road until mid-June.

Scott Pillinger, Network Rail’s programme manager, said: "We have essential maintenance and repair work taking place on multiple bridges over this five-day period, ranging from strengthening works to full replacement.

“Alongside this there will be drainage and track work, all of which is vital to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the railway.

“Working over a solid week is the most efficient way to get this work completed and minimise disruption overall and I'd like to thank passengers and residents for their patience while this work is carried out."

Adam Hopkins, GWR’s station manager for the Taunton area, said: “This work forms part of an ongoing programme of investment, helping to ensure we can continue to provide consistent and reliable services.

“GWR trains will still run between London Paddington and Taunton or Weston-super-Mare, while CrossCountry trains will run between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton via a diversionary route.

“Rail replacement services will be provided for those stations between Taunton and Weston-super-Mare.

“As an alternative, rail tickets can also be used to travel on local buses calling at Weston-super-Mare, Highbridge & Burnham, Bridgwater or Taunton.

“It’s important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements will make journey times a little longer, so please do check before you travel.”

To find out more, visit https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/western/somerset-bridges/