RAIL services between South Wales and Bristol Parkway will be disrupted during June and early July as Network Rail continues the modernisation of the Great Western mainline.

The work will help Great Western Railway to deliver the full benefit of new Intercity Express Trains, including more frequent services and quicker journeys.

From Saturday, June 16 through to and including Friday,

July 6, the Network Rail works includes track lowering in the two Patchway tunnels, as well as track renewal in the Severn Tunnel.

Services from London Paddington to South Wales will operate hourly services on a diversionary route that will add up to 40 minutes to journey times.

Further electrification works is also planned on the line between Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction.

Added to this, from Monday, June 11 to Thursday, June 14 work between Didcot Parkway and Swindon will see services diverted in the late evening.

GWR Operations Director Rob Mullen said: “This piece of work is an essential part to the electrification programme, and we advise our passengers to plan their journey before they travel.

“New Intercity Express Trains are already operating between South Wales and London providing more seats than the trains they replace.

“This electrification work, once complete, will enable us to deliver the full benefit of these new trains, including more frequent services and quicker journeys.”

How will my journey be affected Saturday, 16 June to Friday, July 6?

• An hourly train service will run between South Wales and London Paddington on a diversionary route, extending journey times by up to 40 minutes.

• A peak-time train service will run between Bristol Parkway and London Paddington. At off-peak times, customers should travel via Bristol Temple Meads – tickets will be accepted.

• Taunton and Portsmouth Harbour services will start from Bristol Parkway instead of Cardiff Central. Replacement buses will run between Newport and Bristol Parkway.

How will my journey be affected Monday, June 11 to Thursday, June 14?

• Services between London Paddington and South Wales will be diverted, and will not call at Didcot Parkway or Swindon in the late evening.

• Last direct service from London Paddington will depart at 7.15pm, calling at Swindon at 8.15pm, and Bristol Parkway at 8.40pm.

• Last direct service from Swansea will depart at 5.29pm, calling at Bristol Parkway at 7.01pm, and Swindon at 7.30pm.

• Buses will replace trains between Reading and Swindon.

During the period of works, concert-goers travelling to the Principality Stadium in Cardiff will also be affected.

From Friday, June 21 to Sunday, June 24 direct replacement buses will operate after the gigs to Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway.

Network Rail engineers will also be working on the South Wales mainline from Monday, June 25 until Friday, July 6, between the Severn Tunnel and Cardiff Central station, impacting Arriva Trains Wales services.

Travelling in Wales between Monday, June 25 and Friday July 6?

• Arriva Trains Wales services between Cardiff and Cwmbran, and Cardiff and Ebbw Vale will be affected with rail-replacement bus services in operation.

• Services between Cardiff and Newport will be less frequent, with platform changes and minor re-timings at both stations.

• Services to Holyhead and Cheltenham will also be altered.