| Great Western Railway (GWR) and Network Rail are investing in the long-term reliability of the London to South Wales route this summer, with essential upgrade works set to improve journeys for years to come. |
Customers travelling on the route are advised to plan ahead, as the work will affect journey times and service frequency between Swindon and Bristol Parkway. From Monday 6 July to Sunday 2 August, and again on the weekend of 8/9 August, trains between Swindon and Bristol Parkway will run less frequently while the upgrades take place. What this means for customers Longer journeys: Trains between London Paddington and South Wales will be diverted, adding around 25 minutes to journey times Less frequent services: Trains will run once an hour instead of more frequently Changes to stopping patterns: Some services will be altered to help keep trains running smoothly along the route More trains to/from Swindon: Extra services will run between London Paddington and Swindon, giving customers more options on that part of the route No rail replacement buses are planned. Customers are encouraged to take advantage of free reservations and plan their journeys in advance. Why the work is happening Network Rail will replace track and carry out essential structural work in Chipping Sodbury tunnel, alongside track renewals west of Swindon. This investment will deliver a stronger, more resilient railway, improving reliability and helping protect services against extreme weather in the future. GWR’s Station Manager for Swindon and Bristol Parkway, Marcus Deegan, said: “This is an important investment in the future of the route, and we want customers to feel the benefit of it for years to come. “We know longer, less frequent journeys are an inconvenience in the short term, so we’re doing everything we can to help, including extra services to and from Swindon and we’d encourage everyone travelling this summer to plan ahead and check before they go. “Trains will continue to run throughout the work, and our teams will be on hand to help customers complete their journeys”. Michael Pinkerton, Network Rail portfolio manager, said: “This work will make the railway more resilient and reliable for passengers long into the future. “Our teams will be working day and night throughout the summer to deliver these upgrades as efficiently as possible, minimising disruption while we strengthen the route against extreme weather. “During the work, customers are encouraged to: Check before you travel at gwr.com/upgrade Allow extra time, especially for connections Reserve seats in advance where available Sign up for journey alerts for real-time updates |
| [donate]
| Help keep news FREE for our readersSupporting your local community newspaper/online news outlet is crucial now more than ever. If you believe in independent journalism,then consider making a valuable contribution by making a one-time or monthly donation. We operate in rural areas where providing unbiased news can be challenging. |
