On the rails, First Great Western, Chiltern Railways, CrossCountry and Wrexham & Shropshire plan to run their advertised weekend services in Oxfordshire, but passengers are advised to check train times before setting out in case of weather-related disruption.

Engineering work is planned to affect several routes but this may change at short notice if Network Rail engineers are unable to carry out work due to the weather conditions.

Work is due to take place both days between Didcot and Reading, which will mean a revised FGW service between Oxford and London. Most trains on the Cotswold Line will only run to and from Didcot, with passengers having to change for connections with Reading and London.

This work will also affect CrossCountry services, which will not run between Oxford and Reading all weekend, with buses replacing trains. Trains will run from Oxford to Banbury and destinations further north and between Reading and the South Coast.

Chiltern Railways services through Oxfordshire will run to a normal Saturday timetable tomorrow but on Sunday the line will be closed between Banbury and Haddenham & Thame Parkway, with trains running north and south of these stations respectively and buses connecting them and serving Bicester North. A taxi will be provided on request at Kings Sutton, where trains and replacement buses will not stop, by using the help point at the village station.

The work on Sunday also affects Wrexham & Shropshire trains. A special timetable will be in operation between Banbury, Shrewsbury and Wrexham.

For information on train times, see the National Rail website or call 08457 484950, or see the relevant operator's websites, www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk, www.chilternrailways.co.uk, www.crosscountrytrains.co.uk or www.wrexhamandshropshire.co.uk.

wcrossley@oxfordmail.co.uk