RAIL passengers face a summer of discontent after Network Rail revealed it will be closing the main line between Swindon and Bristol for nine days during August.

The closure is part of a £750m three-year track renewal programme, which will include a complete revamp of Wootton Bassett junction.

Work to replace the ageing set of tracks at the junction is set to get under way on August 26 and will go on until September 4.

A large percentage of the Paddington to Bristol and Cardiff routes carry pre-1974 rails and a high number of sleepers also date from the 1960s and 1970s.

But, despite the track being more susceptible to defects, rail bosses have insisted the line remains safe.

"We have been carrying out a large part of the programme overnight, but one of the main projects will involve closing the Wootton Bassett junction," said Network Rail spokeswoman Kirsty Anderson.

"The junction needs to be completely replaced because it is coming to the end of its life and it will involve quite a bit of work.

"It is not something that can be done during a day and unfortunately the line will have to be closed for nine days in August.

"We realise this will cause inconvenience for passengers, but Network Rail's key aim along the Western Route is to deliver a high performing, punctual railway a railway that Brunel himself would be proud of."

In January, thousands of commuters faced long delays after a freight train derailed at Wootton Bassett junction.

But Network Rail has denied that the ageing line caused the derailment or that it has prompted August's repair work.

"The derailment was nothing to do with the track," said Miss Anderson.

"The line is completely safe for use.

"This work is all about transforming the Western Route into a reliable, high-performing railway."

In total, 225 miles of mainline track will be renewed and Network Rail has invested £50m in new high output track renewal equipment to carry out the work.

Service promise

FIRST Great Western has promised to keep disruptions to a minimum when the main Swindon to Bristol railway line is closed for nine days later this summer.

Extensive work to replace Wootton Bassett junction is set to close the line from Saturday, August 26 to Monday, September 4.

But the train operator says the work will not affect services.

"We will be operating services from Swindon through to London and from Swindon through to the south west," said a First Great Western spokesman.

"There will be replacement transport in place between Chippenham and Swindon, but we have no firm details as we have yet to publish the timetable for that period.

"We expect to publish the timetable in 10 weeks' time."

Passengers wishing to find out details of changes to their route should contact National Rail Enquiries nearer the time.

The National Rail Enquiries hotline number is 08457 484950.