Engineering works to affect journeys through Bath
Great Western Railway services will be affected by rail improvement work taking place in the Bath area from Sunday.
Network Rail is carrying out bridge repairs between Bath Spa and Freshford and replacing track on the line between Keynsham and Bristol Temple Meads.
As a result, there will be no train services running between Bath Spa and Westbury on Sunday 27 October:
- Trains will still run between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads or Cardiff Central, plus between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour or Weymouth
- Replacement buses will operate between Bath Spa and Bradford-on-Avon or Westbury
From Monday 28 to Thursday 31 October trains will then be impacted between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads:
- Trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads will use an alternative route – not stopping at Chippenham or Bath Spa
- A reduced train service will also operate between London Paddington and Bath Spa via Chippenham
- Replacement buses are planned between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads
- Trains will run between Cardiff Central or Gloucester and Bristol Temple Meads, between Bath Spa and Portsmouth Harbour, plus between Westbury and Weymouth
- Customers can also use local bus services instead between Bath and Bristol
Oana Apetroaie, GWR Station Manager for Bath Spa and Chippenham, said:
“This improvement work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance, helping to ensure we continue to provide consistent and reliable services.
“GWR will provide replacement bus services between Bath Spa and Bradford-on-Avon or Westbury on Sunday 27 October, and trains will resume running the next day.
“From Monday, trains will run between Bath and London, and between Bristol and London, however there will be changes to the usual timetable and people will need to check their journey beforehand.
“Buses will replace trains between Bath and Bristol, but please note that they cannot stop immediately outside of Oldfield Park and Keynsham stations. The replacement bus stops will be signposted.
“As an alternative, customers can also use their ticket to travel between Bath and Oldfield Park, Keynsham or Bristol on local buses.”
Services are planned to return to normal from Friday 1 November.
Lead Portfolio Manager for Network Rail, Mark Parker, said:
“We’re grateful for people’s patience during this period, while we work on the railway.
“It’s vital that these renewals and repairs are completed as they’re essential maintenance to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of train services on this busy section.”
Motorists travelling between Bristol and Bath are also being warned to plan ahead and allow time for their journeys during this period, with essential gas works taking place near the A4 Globe roundabout 25 October to 3 November.
For the latest information, visit GWR.com/Upgrade.
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Notes to editors
Notes to editors
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us