Customers travelling with CrossCountry this weekend from Taunton and Tiverton Parkway are being urged to plan ahead and check before travelling, as planned engineering work across the rail network will significantly impact journeys.

There will be longer journey times and changes to services on many CrossCountry routes on Saturday, Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday.

Much of the chaos will be for travellers heading through the West Midlands, where HS2 engineers are installing part of a new viaduct over the railway near Water Orton. The existing structure is being rebuilt to accommodate the future high speed network while also improving facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.

Additionally on Sunday, planned track improvements to ensure smooth and reliable journeys between Wolverhampton and Stafford will mean rail replacement buses will operate between Wolverhampton, Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent.

Engineering work elsewhere on the network is expected to increase demand for CrossCountry services as customers look for alternative routes to and from London. Strike action by other operators will also mean reduced levels of service in some places.

With a range of events and sporting fixtures taking place across the country, the bank holiday weekend is expected to be particularly busy, with thousands of revellers also travelling by train to and from Reading and Leeds Festivals, and to Manchester Village Pride.

Mark Anderson, CrossCountry's Customer & Commercial Director, said: "This essential engineering work will help keep the railway resilient and ready for the future, ensuring passengers can continue to enjoy smooth and reliable journeys.

"From Saturday 29 until Monday 31 August, journeys through Birmingham New Street will take longer, with some journeys also requiring rail replacement bus services.

"We'd like to thank customers for their patience while this work takes place. I'd ask customers to leave more time for their journeys and make sure they don't bring too much luggage."