Reading To Newbury And Bedwyn Trains Disrupted By Essential June Works

Passengers travelling through the Newbury area are being advised to plan ahead as essential engineering work affects services over two weekends in June.

Network Rail is carrying out track renewal and drainage improvement work between Theale and Bedwyn, including flood alleviation measures on the line.

The work means buses will replace trains between Reading and Newbury or Bedwyn on the weekends of 6/7 June and 13/14 June.

Replacement transport is also planned between Newbury, Kintbury and Hungerford, as well as between Pewsey and Swindon.

Long-distance Great Western Railway services between London Paddington and Plymouth, Newquay or Penzance will be diverted via Swindon while the work takes place.

Services between Reading and Basingstoke will not be affected by the engineering work.

GWR has warned that replacement road transport could make some journeys much longer, with passengers urged to check their route and allow extra time before travelling.

Network Rail says the work is needed because sections of track have reached the end of their working life. Drainage upgrades are also being carried out to help the railway cope better during periods of heavy rain.

GWR’s Station Manager at Newbury, Tom Butler, said:

“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause but the work planned will help us to maintain our train services in the area for years to come. Rail replacement services are planned for those stations affected, including a minibus at Newbury to serve Kintbury and Hungerford stations. It’s important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements could make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead.”

Network Rail portfolio manager, Mark Parker, said:

“We’ll be replacing track that’s reached the end of its working life and improving the drainage to help the area cope better with heavy rain. We’re sorry to have to close the railway temporarily but we need to keep our teams safe and complete the work as quickly as possible.”

Image: Great Western Railway