Today and over the next few days there is disruption to rail services in Cornwall and Devon due to a lorry striking and getting stuck under a bridge at Mannamead, Plymouth.

Although it is mainly services on the mainline between Plymouth and Totnes that are affected, and trains are running west into Cornwall from Plymouth, timetabling may be affected due to carriages being in the wrong place due to the bridge problem - but alternative travel options are being put in place.

The website for the main South West rail operator, Great Western Railway (GWR), has posted the following update:

"Due to a lorry colliding with a bridge between Plymouth and Totnes trains have to run at reduced speed.

"Impact: Train services running through these stations may be cancelled, delayed or revised. Disruption is expected until the end of the day on Wednesday (September 1).

"Customer Advice: A lorry has collided with a railway bridge in Plymouth, causing damage to the bridge structure. The bridge has been examined by structural engineers and further inspections are needed throughout today (Tuesday August 31).

"Only one of the two running lines is currently open and one train per hour in each direction can operate until further notice. Due to the damage sustained, there is a high likelihood that disruption will continue for longer.

"Customer Advice: A limited train service will be running between Plymouth and Newton Abbot and the trains running will be much busier than normal. Therefore customers are advised to only travel if your journey is essential. Please check before you travel to get the latest updates.

"Train services are running through Cornwall between Plymouth and Penzance; between Exmouth, Exeter St Davids, and Paignton; as well as between Exeter St Davids and London Paddington, although these services are subject to alteration.

"Replacement road transport: Limited replacement road transport has been sourced to run between Exeter St Davids and Plymouth to support the train service and a shuttle bus service will serve all stations between Plymouth and Newton Abbot in both directions.

"Tickets dated for Tuesday, August 31, can be instead be used for travel on either Wednesday, September 1, or Thursday, September 2.

Stagecoach GOLD bus route: Torquay (Grand Hotel) - Paignton - Totnes (Station) - Ivybridge - Plymouth (Royal Parade) are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys.

"CrossCountry are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice. Arrangements have been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these journeys."

On its own website, Crosscountry Trains - which runs services from the South West to the Midland, North and Scotland - states: "CrossCountry are operating a fast non-stop coach service between Plymouth and Tiverton Parkway in both directions. These coach times are now showing in online journey planners for today.

"Passengers travelling from Plymouth to Taunton, Bristol, Birmingham and the north are advised to travel on these coaches to Tiverton Parkway, where you’ll board the same train as you were originally due to board at Plymouth. These coaches depart from the same time as the train was due to leave Plymouth.

"Passengers heading south west to Plymouth and beyond should change at Tiverton Parkway for the fast coach to this station and continue their journey from there by rail. The coaches towards Plymouth will depart approximately five minutes after our train arrives at Tiverton Parkway.

"Passengers travelling between Exeter, Newton Abbot, Totnes and Plymouth should travel on GWR services, including any bus replacement in use between these stations.

"Great Western Railway will accept CrossCountry customers on their services at no extra charge. Coach times will remain the same for the rest of the week but will appear online the evening prior to the day of travel.

"Compensation - Customers who travel today and are subsequently delayed by 30 minutes or more may be entitled to Delay Repay compensation. Alternatively, customers who do not travel and do not use their tickets due to the disruption, can apply for a full refund for their unused tickets from their point of purchase, without an administration charge.

If you have any questions you can tweet us @CrossCountryUK or message us via Facebook Messenger, where we are available 24 a day."

Arrangements have also been made for Great Western Railway rail tickets to be accepted for these bus journeys:

Stagecoach bus route 2, 2A: Plymouth (Station) - St Budeaux (Square) - Saltash (Fore Street Bottom).

Stagecoach bus route 2: Newton Abbot (Sherborne Rd) - Teignmouth - Dawlish (Green) - Starcross (Station) - Exeter (Bus Station).

Stagecoach bus route 12: Newton Abbot (Station) - Torre (Station) - Torquay (Grand Hotel) - Paignton (Bus Station).

Stagecoach bus route 22: Dawlish Warren - Dawlish (The Green) - Teignmouth - Torquay (Strand) - Paignton (Bus Station).

Stagecoach bus routes 55, 55A, 55B: Exeter (Central station New North Road) - Exeter (The Imperial) - Tiverton (Bus Station).

Stagecoach GOLD bus route: Torquay (Grand Hotel) - Paignton - Totnes (Station) - Ivybridge - Plymouth (Royal Parade).

Stagecoach bus route X38: Exeter (Bus Station) - Ivybridge - Plymouth (Bus Station).

First Kernow route T1: Penzance (Station) - St Erth (Station) - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) - Truro.

First Kernow route T2: St Ives (Bus Station) - Carbis Bay - Lelant - Hayle - Camborne (Bus Station) - Redruth (Station) - Truro.

First Kernow route U1: Truro (Bus Station) - Penryn (Station) - Falmouth (The Moor).

First Kernow route U2: Redruth (Station) - Penryn (Station) - Falmouth (The Moor).

First Kernow route 17: Penzance (Station) - St Erth (Station) - Lelant (Village Hall) - Carbis Bay (Boskerris Road) - St Ives.

First Kernow route 27: Truro (Bus Station) - St Austell (Station) - Bugle (The Square) - Roche (Victoria Road Travelodge).

First Kernow route 87: Truro (Station) - Newquay (Bus Station).

First Kernow route 91: Truro (Bus Station) - St Columb Road (Co-op) - Quintrell Downs (North Way) - Newquay.

These buses are conveying passengers via any reasonable route until further notice.