Great Western Railway services between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare will be affected by engineering work this weekend. The disruptive effect of an engineering possession will be made worse by more industrial action on CrossCountry on Saturday, as the RMT dispute over pay for overtime and rest day working continues.

As a result, GWR has warned there will be no trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton on Saturday, and none between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare on Sunday. Replacement buses will run, but they will not serve Bedminster or Parson Street stations, although rail tickets will be valid on normal service buses.

GWR station manager for the Bristol area Ben Scott said the engineering work is ‘part of a wider programme of works to maintain and improve rail services in the area’.

He continued: ‘Trains for London Paddington, Cardiff Central, Avonmouth, or Gloucester are unaffected, but it’s important that customers going south are aware that alternative arrangements will make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead.’

Network Rail’s lead portfolio manager Bradley Wallace added: ‘Over the weekend we’ll be replacing two worn sections of Bristol West Junction; the vital piece of the railway that enables trains to change lines on the south west side of Bristol Temple Meads, on their way to and from the West Country.

‘It’s obviously a very busy part of the network in the Bristol area and the work we’re doing is vital for the continued safe and reliable running of the railway. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we complete this essential maintenance.’

Additional track work, drainage improvements and inspections are taking place at various places along the line, including the Bedminster area, Parson Street station and Flax Bourton tunnel.

Further engineering work is planned between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa from 27 to 30 October, while the RMT’s dispute with CrossCountry is set to affect services until 25 October, although Sunday shifts are being worked normally.

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