A train every six minutes for Bath Christmas Market Saturdays

A train will serve Bath Spa station every six minutes on the three Saturdays of this year’s world-famous Christmas Market taking place between Thursday 28 November and Sunday 15 December.

On top of the normal Saturday service, GWR will run an extra 21 trains stopping at Bath Spa to help shoppers get to and from the city.

Despite the almost 7,000 extra seats, trains in the local area will, however, be really busy between 0900 and midday, and between 1600 and 1930. A queuing system will be in place at Bath Spa for the return journey to help those board trains safely.

Bath Spa Station Manager Oana Apetroaie said:

“As we welcome people to Bath, we would like to remind them that the station and some trains will be really busy for some periods and people may have to queue to enter the station.

“If you are able to travel during the week, or outside of the peak times in the early morning or later in the evening, you may experience a more comfortable journey.

“Our friendly and approachable staff will be on hand to help keep people moving, and this year we’re delighted to welcome back the Bath Abbey Choir on Friday 6th.

“The Christmas Market transforms this great city into an enchanting winter wonderland which so many people want to visit, and we at GWR do all we can to support that.”

Christmas shoppers this year can also take advantage of direct Saturday services between Bristol and Oxford, calling at Bath Spa. For information on journey times click here.

Those planning to travel to Bath on Sunday 24 November and on Sunday 1 December are reminded that engineering in the London area means there will be no direct trains between London Paddington and Reading in the early mornings.

Sunday 24 November

• No direct train services to or from London Paddington until 1115.
• Replacement buses are planned between Ealing Broadway and Slough.
• After 1115, trains will run but services between London Paddington and Reading will be reduced as only two out of four tracks will be available.

Sunday 1 December

• No direct train services to or from London Paddington until 1030.
• Use London Underground services between Paddington and Ealing Broadway instead.
• After 1030, trains will run but services between London Paddington and Reading will be reduced as only two out of four tracks will be available.

To keep those queueing in high spirits and in upholding the generosity of Christmas, GWR has teamed up with the Bath Abbey Choir, who will sing carols outside the station from 1815 on Friday 6 December.

Several rail services will also have extended dwell times at key locations and there will be some other alterations to normal timetabled services as a result; so please check before you travel.

Due to crew availability on Sundays, further timetable changes may be needed; because of the late-notice changes, and the complexity of updating timetable systems, journey planners will not show changes correctly before the Sunday morning of travel.