Passengers are being warned of disruption on the railways this winter as the new year brings a host of engineering works.

Details of works which will close sections of the Weymouth-Waterloo line (South Western Railway) and the Weymouth to Bristol line (Great Western Railway) have been announced.

Buses will be laid on for passengers to transport them around affected areas on the network.

There will be a revised timetable in place during these works and passengers should check with the operator before travelling.

Most works are happening at weekends or late at night.

A South Western Railway spokesman said: “We and our partners at Network Rail are always working hard to maintain and improve the rail network. We try to keep disruption to a minimum by carrying out engineering works at the weekend or over holiday periods where we can, but this isn’t always possible.

“If we need to close train lines for engineering works, we’ll provide buses to replace the affected trains. We will need to alter train services over a wider area, for example to connect with buses, so you should always check whether your journey will be affected.”

Rail engineering works include:

* Sun, Jan 13: Line closed Westbury area (buses between Frome and Trowbridge)

* Sat-Sun Jan 19/20: Line closed Eastleigh area (London trains diverted via Guildford, making journeys longer)

* Sat-Sun Jan 26-27: Line closed between Wareham-Poole (buses laid on, revised train service from Weymouth to Wareham)

* Sat-Sun Feb 2-3/Feb 9-10/Feb 16-17/Feb 24/March 3: Line closed around Southampton (buses laid on)

* Sun, Feb 3: Line closed Westbury area (see above)

* Mon, Feb 11-Fri Feb 15: Line closed late evening between Southampton-Brockenhurst (buses laid on)

* Sun March 10: Line closed between Weymouth-Wareham (buses laid on Pick up trains at Wareham). Will also affect GWR trains to Dorchester West

* Sun March 17: Line closed in Basingstoke and Woking areas (London trains diverted via Guildford, making journeys longer)

* Sun March 24: Line closed between Weymouth-Wareham (buses laid on. Pick up trains at Wareham). Will also affect GWR trains to Dorchester West

National Rail Enquiries can provide detailed information about train delays and cancellations. Call 0345 748 4950 or visit nationalrail.co.uk