Advance and careful planning is being strongly advised before leaving or travelling to Gloucestershire this weekend.

Ahead of more planned disruption on the railways, Heathrow Airport was closed today (Friday March 21) as repair crews scrambled to restore power to the UK's busiest airport in the wake of a blaze at the airport's power supply depot. 

In a statement, Heathrow airport advised all travellers to stay away – and has warned that with 1,300 flights cancelled and diverted today,  disruption is likely to last beyond the weekend.

Aside from flying, it may also be wise to plan ahead because yet more trouble is coming down the line for rail passengers hoping to use GWR services both this weekend and the one after.

And if you thought driving might be wiser, this Sunday's familiar delays and cancellations for Gloucestershire travellers also get an added twist with the TOTAL CLOSURE of the M4 for work to replace a faulty bridge.

GWR has flagged the likelihood of "significant disruption" on its route between London and both Bristol and South Wales for March 23 and Mothering Sunday (March 30).

A spokesperson said: "Network Rail is completing planned engineering works along the mainline between Didcot Parkway and Swindon, which means GWR trains will need to use alternative routes between London Paddington and both Bristol and South Wales.

"This means there is a significant reduction to the train service along major routes and therefore we are advising customers to consider travelling on alternative days for the next two Sundays."

This Sunday (March 23), engineering works in the Paddington area are also planned until 9.20am, the work reducing operable tracks in and out of the station from four to two for GWR, Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express trains. GWR added: "After 09.20am,  a significantly reduced, amended timetable will be in place for services between London and Bristol Temple Meads, and South Wales.

Before that time, services will start from or terminate at Reading, where customers will be able to change for Elizabeth Line services to Ealing Broadway, where they can change for the London Underground network.

After 9.20am, only one train an hour will serve Bristol and South Wales, operating on a diversionary route from Reading to Bath, before continuing to Bristol Temple Meads, Bristol Parkway, and stations to Swansea.

GWR added that as well as significantly busier trains, journeys will also take "much longer", while services may also be cancelled or delayed at short notice.

"Online journey planners are in the process of being updated, and we'll be contacting affected customers directly. We'll also make customers aware through traditional and social media, as well as station posters and on board and station announcements."

Additionally, ticket holders for the affected routes for March 23 will be able to use their purchase on the days before and after their allotted travel, or can claim a full refund at www.GWR.com/Refunds, according to the usual terms and conditions.

GWR added that the closure of the M4, between Bath and Bristol (see below), "will also affect our ability to provide replacement bus transport, with no linkup buses between Swindon and Bristol Parkway.

Replacement coaches will be laid on between Didcot Parkway and Swindon, Reading and Swindon and Bath Spa and Swindon, while after 9.20am, train shuttle services will operate between London Paddington and Reading/Didcot Parkway.

For the weekend of March 29/30, a "very limited service" will operate between London Paddington and Bristol/South Wales due to further track renewal. "Replacement buses will however be able to run between Swindon and Bristol Parkway. Those travelling are advised to travel the day before or after, and to only travel on this route on Sunday if absolutely necessary.

Meanwhile, demolition and repair teams for National Highways are limbering up for a major M4 operation between Junctions 18 (the A46 Bath-Stroud exit) and 19, also known as the Hambrook Interchange. This section of the motorway, one of the heaviest-used stetches in the UK, will fall silent to traffic for the demolition of the A432's Badminton Road overbridge, with 50mph speed limit on both approaches to the closure. Diversions will run via M32, A4174, A420 and A46.

A subject recently raised in parliament amid mounting pleas for early redress, the Badminton Road overbridge closed to all traffic on July 12, 2023, after dangerous cracks were discovered in a routine inspection. Since that date, diverted traffic and businesses in South Gloucestershire have been forced to use lengthy alternative routes for journeys between Bristol and Yate.

This weekend's bridge demolition isn't quite the end of local travel headaches, though: National Highways will put the new bridge in place over the coming year, with a due date for usage not before the spring of next year.

Additionally for onward travellers, Junctions 10 to 11 of the M25 will be closed for upgrading work this weekend, National Highways warns, from 9pm on Friday until 6am on Monday March 24.

● For updates on rail journey information, visit www.gwr.com/check, while National Highways' latest information can be found at https://nationalhighways.co.uk/travel-updates/. You can also call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 48 49 50.