Rail passengers travelling through Maidenhead this week are advised to check before they travel amid temporary timetable changes during the third heatwave of the year.

While most services are expected to operate as normal, Great Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail announced temporary timetable changes during the hottest parts of the day to reduce the risk of heat-related infrastructure failures.

Passengers using Maidenhead, Slough and Twyford stations are likely to be affected by changes to some stopping services between London Paddington and Reading.

The changes are designed to minimise the use of railway points – the movable sections of track that allow trains to switch lines – which can become more prone to failure in extreme temperatures.

As a result, some services that normally run on the slower relief lines will operate differently, while London Paddington services to Didcot Parkway and Newbury will terminate at Reading.

Passengers travelling beyond Reading will need to change trains, and the number of direct services to Oxford will also be reduced.

GWR warned that, because the alterations have been introduced at short notice, journey planners and timetable information may not show the correct schedules until the day of travel.

Passengers are being encouraged to plan, allow extra time for their journeys and carry water, particularly if travelling during the warmest part of the day.

Anyone feeling unwell while waiting for a train is advised not to board and instead seek assistance from station staff.

Daryn McCombe, Performance Director for GWR and Network Rail, said: "We want to keep our customers safe during this next heatwave, which is why we are taking the precautionary step of amending a small number of services at the hottest times of day.

"We want to keep our customers safe during this next heat wave, which is why we are taking the precautionary step of amending a small number of services at the hottest times of day.

“We know this could be disruptive to a few people, and we're sorry for the inconvenience it will cause, but customer safety must come first.

“We'd encourage everyone planning to travel this week to check their journey beforehand.”

GWR said temperatures are expected to be lower than those experienced during June's heatwave.

However, precautionary measures are intended to help maintain a reliable service while protecting passengers and railway infrastructure.

For the latest service information, customers should check GWR.com before travelling.