London Paddington will be closed to trains on Sunday morning due to rail improvements, GWR has announced.

Services at Bristol Temple Meads will also be affected this weekend.

Network Rail is carrying out an essential signalling upgrade in the Paddington area on Sunday, closing the station to all trains for half the day until 12.00.

And final work on a recently upgraded railway junction on the approach to Bristol Temple Meads will affect trains on Saturday and Sunday.

Great Western Railway has advised customers to plan ahead and check journey times before travelling.

GWR managing director Mark Hopwood said: “We work very closely with Network Rail to make sure essential track and signalling improvements can take place when fewer people are travelling and with minimum disruption to customers. 

“We will continue to keep people moving during these works, but journeys may take longer and trains could be busier than usual. I’m grateful for customers’ patience while the work is completed, and would encourage those who do need to travel to check beforehand.”

* With no trains running to/from London Paddington on Sunday morning, long-distance services from across the GWR network will start or terminate at Reading.

* Customers arriving at Reading are advised to use South Western Railway services to London Waterloo.

* Local services from Didcot Parkway will start/terminate at Slough – change here for replacement buses to Boston Manor (Piccadilly Line) or Ealing Broadway (District Line).

* Buses will replace trains on sections of routes between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside, as well as between London Marylebone and Oxford.

To allow for a smoother and quicker journey, GWR is advising passengers to consider travelling either the day before or after midday on the day of the works. For more information visit GWR.com/Upgrade.

Network Rail programme manager Scott Pillinger said: “We would like to thank passengers for their understanding while we complete these important signalling upgrades to prepare for the start of HS2.

“The HS2 route will connect directly into the Great Western network thanks to a brand-new station at Old Oak Common, making it easier and quicker to change trains than travelling through central London.”