Row erupts over city rail work

Network Rail is responsible for maintaining the railways

A row has broken out between a rail operator and a city council over engineering work starting in October.

The work in the centre of Bath will mean up to 35 replacement buses per hour entering the city in run up to Christmas, claims the council.

In a statement, Bath and North East Somerset Council (BANES) said this would prove very disruptive.

Network Rail said it had tried to minimise disruption and added there was no good time to carry out the work.

BANES said in a statement: "We are very disappointed Network Rail has chosen one of the busiest periods of the year to send up to 35 coaches per hour into Bath for these weekends, despite our objections.

"No consultation with the council took place to understand the impact this decision would have on the city and the roads.

We are doing this investment work to improve the rail and really there is no good time to do this work Network Rail spokeswoman

"Because of the time of year selected by Network Rail it is likely their own coaches will be delayed in addition to maximising inconvenience for businesses, shoppers, and visitors.

"Unfortunately, there is little the council can do except do except mitigate the impact of this situation imposed upon us. We have no powers to delay these works from happening."

A Network Rail spokeswoman told BBC News the work was essential.

"We plan 18 months in advance and if there was any way we could carry out the work while the trains were not running we would do that," she said.

"They are concerned that bus services are coming into the city. They are hired by First Great Western.

"We are doing this investment work to improve the rail and really there is no good time to do this work."