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Friday 7 Mar 2025

Passengers urged to check before travelling in the west this Easter as Network Rail carries out vital upgrades

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Passengers are being urged to check before travelling this Easter holiday as Network Rail works to deliver vital upgrades and track renewals. 

Maidenhead to Bourne End/Marlow

Network Rail will be renewing the track between Maidenhead and Bourne End/Marlow from Saturday 12 April to Sunday 20 April. During this time, no trains will run and a rail replacement service will be operating instead.

While the line is closed to upgrade the track, engineers will also improve signalling equipment, making the railway in the area more resilient.

Acton East to London Paddington

From Friday 18 April to Monday 21 April engineers will be carrying out upgrades to the switches and crossings in the Acton East area – rail equipment that enables trains to move between tracks. These upgrades will enhance the safety and reliability of the line.

Network Rail will also be continuing work that’s needed to bring trains in the future to HS2’s Old Oak Common station in west London, with a focus on installing drainage, and the overhead line equipment that powers trains.

During this period, trains will be running to a reduced timetable between Reading and London Paddington – affecting GWR, Heathrow Express, and Elizabeth line services.

Frome

All trains to and from Frome will be affected by engineering work taking place between Saturday 19 and Monday 21 April, as Network Rail carries out vital track maintenance to enhance safety and reliability.

Trains between London and the south west, and trains between Westbury and Weymouth, will not stop at Frome and will instead use an alternative route.

A rail replacement service will operate between Frome and Westbury.

Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western route director, said: “I would like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these vital upgrades over the Easter break.

“While most of our network will be up and running, there will be rail replacement services operating in some areas, so please do check before travelling.

“We know that there’s never a good time to close the railway and this engineering work has been planned for a time when fewer people are travelling by train to reduce disruption. These upgrades will mean that passengers can continue to experience a safe and reliable railway into the future.”

Mian Sarwar, GWR station manager for Slough & Maidenhead, said: “This improvement work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance, helping to ensure we continue to provide consistent and reliable services.

“GWR will provide replacement bus services between Maidenhead, Bourne End and Marlow from Saturday 12 to Sunday 20 April.

“As an alternative, season tickets will also be valid for journeys on the line between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford for onward connections.

“Season tickets will also be valid with Chiltern Railways between High Wycombe and London Marylebone as well as London Underground services between Marylebone and Paddington.

“It’s important that customers are aware that these alternative travel arrangements will make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead.”

Howard Smith, director of the Elizabeth line, said: “These essential engineering and maintenance works along the western route of the Elizabeth line will enhance the safety and reliability of the track so that we can continue to operate the best service possible.

“During this time, Elizabeth line services in the west will be running on a reduced timetable. We encourage customers to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys, and check before they travel using our website or the TfL Go app.”