GREAT Western Railway is encouraging Bank Holiday customers travelling through Swindon to check journey times and routes prior to travelling, as further preparatory work for electrification will be taking place.

Electrification of key routes on the Great Western network is vital for the introduction of the new Super Express Trains that will run between London Paddington, Swindon, Bristol and Swansea.

On Sunday and Monday, May 1 and 2, the railway line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway will be closed and a revised train service will operate between London Paddington and stations to Bristol and South Wales.

Train services on the Trans Wiltshire line between Swindon and Westbury will not run during these works.

To minimise disruption to long distance passengers, two separate hourly services will operate.

On Sunday there will be one train per hour from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads diverted via Newbury, adding up to 30 minutes to journey times.

There will also be one train per hour between London Paddington and Swansea running through Swindon which will then be diverted via Lydney, extending journey times by around 35 minutes.

On Monday the same services will operate and a London Paddington to Swindon shuttle service will operate every two hours in each direction.

Buses will replace trains between Swindon and Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Bath Spa and Bristol Parkway.

There will be an hourly non-stop service between Swindon and Bath Spa, which will extend the journey by 35 to 40 minutes. There will also be an hourly stopping service between Swindon and Chippenham.

A rail replacement bus service will also operate between Trowbridge/ Melksham and Chippenham, connecting with other bus services at Chippenham for Swindon.