Rail line closure set to continue due to flooding

A train lines in the west of England shut after Storm Claudia caused localised flooding is expected to remain closed until Sunday afternoon.

Great Western Railway (GWR) cancelled services between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway on Saturday morning due to flooding on the track between Bristol and Swindon.

GWR expected the line to reopen by 16:00 GMT on Saturday, but has now said the disruption will continue until at least 14:00 on Sunday.

The rail operator is running an amended timetable for services between south Wales and London Paddington via Bristol Temple Meads.

At Bristol Temple Meads passengers can change for trains to Reading and London Paddington.

GWR said running services via an alternative route was extending journey times by between 20 and 30 minutes.

It said: "As trains are still running you should travel as normal and catch your intended train.

"If you miss a connection as a result of being delayed, your ticket will be accepted, at no extra cost, on the next available train."

GWR said that tickets for Friday and Saturday would be accepted for travel on Sunday and on Monday.