TRAIN services between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton face disruption over the next three weekends during maintenance works on the line.

There will be a rail replacement service this weekend (Saturday and Sunday, March 16 and 17) between Bristol and Taunton and between Weston-super-Mare and Bristol on March 23 and 24 and 30 and 31.

CrossCountry services will be diverted with extended journey times. Some of these services will call additionally at Bath Spa on Sunday, March 17, for the Bath Half Marathon.

While this work is carried out, one of the Network Rail teams will be based at Yatton Station, where 40 car parking spaces have been suspended for the next five weeks to accommodate their work site.

Full details of how to plan your journey during this time can be found at GWR.com/Bristol2019

Great Western Railway performance director Barry Milsom said: "This is an important piece of work that will help improve the reliability of the railway infrastructure, and I would like to thank passengers for their patience over these weekends.

"We recognise that this will mean some journey times will increase while this work is taking place, but we will be diverting services to help keep customers moving, and make sure they can get to where they need to go."

Sarah Fraser, project manager at Network Rail, said: "This work forms a vital part of maintaining the railway to ensure it continues to be safe and reliable for passengers.

"We thank passengers for their patience whilst the work is being delivered and advise them to check before travelling."