TRAIN services in the Severn Beach area will be replaced by buses for a week over the next few days.

Services will be affected between Bristol Temple Meads and Seven Beach and between Filton Abbey Wood and Stapleton Road/Lawrence Hill from Sunday, August 18 to Friday, August 23.

The closure of part of the railway is to enable Network Rail to upgrade the track and drainage at Lawrence Hill as well as at Montpelier station on the Severn Beach line.

Trains will also be impacted between Avonmouth and Severn Beach on Saturday, August 17 to allow a new bridge to be installed.

During this time, trains will still run between Bristol Temple Meads and Filton Abbey Wood, but these services will not be able to stop at either Lawrence Hill or Stapleton Road.

Alex Hills, Great Western Railway station manager for the Bristol area, said: “This work by Network Rail is part of an ongoing programme to help us continue to provide consistent and reliable services.

“Replacement bus services will be in place and customers with rail tickets will also be able to use some local bus services.

“Buses serve Lawrence Hill, Stapleton Road and Filton Abbey Wood stations, plus Montpelier, Redland, Clifton Down, Sea Mills, Shirehampton, Avonmouth and St Andrews Road.

“In addition, valid rail tickets can also be used to travel on the Portway Park & Ride bus services to or from Bristol city centre operated by Stagecoach.

“However, these alternative travel arrangements by road will mean that journey times will be slightly longer, so please check carefully before you travel.”

Mark Parker, lead portfolio manager for Network Rail, said: “We’re grateful to the travelling public and to residents who live close to the railway for their patience during this week of work.

“We work hard to keep unnecessary noise to a minimum, but renewing parts of the railway can be disruptive.

“Equally, we appreciate the impact on passengers along these busy commuter routes.

“This is all vital maintenance to provide the continued safe and reliable running of the railway.”

On Saturday, August 17, replacement buses will operate between Avonmouth and Severn Beach.

Meanwhile, from Sunday, August 18 to Friday, August 23, replacement buses will operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Clifton Down or Severn Beach.

For the latest information, visit GWR.com/Bristol