South Western Railway has announced temporary timetable changes on its West of England route from Monday 10 August, as prolonged hot weather continues to affect rail services.
The operator says the extended spell of dry weather has caused the ground between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids to dry out, affecting the stability of the railway tracks. As a result, trains will be required to operate at reduced speeds to ensure services remain safe and reliable.
Passengers travelling between London Waterloo and Salisbury will see no changes, with trains continuing to run every 30 minutes.
However, services further west will be affected.
Between London Waterloo and Yeovil Junction, one train per hour will continue to operate. Most services from London Waterloo to Yeovil Junction will take around three minutes longer than normal, while journeys in the opposite direction are expected to take around 13 minutes longer.
For passengers travelling to or from Exeter St Davids, one train every two hours will operate between Yeovil Junction and Exeter St Davids. Most journeys from London Waterloo to Exeter St Davids will take approximately 24 minutes longer, while services from Exeter St Davids to London Waterloo will take around 27 minutes longer.
South Western Railway says the temporary timetable is designed to reduce disruption while maintaining a safe and dependable service during the period of extreme weather.
Customers are advised to check their journey before travelling, with online journey planners due to be updated ahead of the timetable changes.