TRAIN passengers travelling to, from and through Newport face disruption and slower journeys across the Easter period - due to engineering work which rail bosses promise will result in quicker services.

Network Rail says that vital electrification works in the Severn Tunnel, to be carried out over the extended Easter weekend will, when complete, enable passengers to enjoy the full benefits of new Intercity Express Trains.

Services will be affected between Bristol Parkway and Newport from Good Friday, April 19, until Easter Monday, April 22, inclusive.

Trains will run to an amended timetable during this period, and bus replacement services will be provided where trains are unable to operate.

“We have worked hard with our colleagues at Network Rail to keep disruption to a minimum, but this work needs to be done to allow customers to take full advantage of new Intercity Express Trains on a more resilient and reliable network," said GWR operations director Rob Mullen.

“Our new trains are already providing over 6,000 seats everyday between South Wales and London Paddington, or the equivalent of 75 extra carriages, and with the completion of electrification planned for later this year, and a new timetable, we will also be able to reduce journey times.” During the aforementioned four-day period:

• Trains between London Paddington and South Wales will terminate at Bristol Parkway and restart from Newport, with replacement road transport in between;

• Trains from Portsmouth Harbour to Cardiff Central will terminate at Bristol Parkway instead; trains from Taunton to Cardiff Central will terminate at Bristol Temple Meads.

• Replacement buses and coaches will operate between Bristol Parkway and Newport, with some calling additionally at Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction.

Track upgrades in Somerset will also affect services on Easter Sunday, April 21, and the following changes planned: Buses and coaches will replace trains between Frome and Yeovil Pen Mill; trains between Bristol Temple Meads and Weymouth will terminate at Frome and restart from Yeovil Pen Mill, with replacement road transport in between; trains between London Paddington and Devon/Cornwall will be diverted via alternate routes, extending normal journey times by 30-50 minutes.

Further work is planned too in the Severn Tunnel on Saturday and Sunday April 27-28, when London Paddington-South Wales trains will be diverted via an alternate route.

Replacement road transport will still operate between Bristol Parkway and Newport, with some buses calling additionally at Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction.

For more details about the impact on train services of rail engineering work, visit GWR.com/Upgrade.