Important information for travel this Bank Holiday

Great Western Railway is encouraging Bank Holiday customers travelling through Swindon to check journey times and routes prior to travelling, as further preparatory work for electrification will take place.

Electrification of key routes on the Great Western network is vital for the introduction of the new Super Express Trains that will run between London Paddington, Maidenhead, Oxford, Newbury, Swindon, Bristol and Swansea.

On Sunday 1 and Monday 2 May, the railway line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway will be closed and a revised train service will operate between London Paddington and stations to Bristol and South Wales.

Train services on the Trans Wiltshire line between Swindon and Westbury will not run during these works.

To minimise disruption to long distance passengers, two separate hourly services will operate.

Sunday:

• 1 train per hour London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads diverted via Newbury, adding up to 30 minutes to journey times. (Calling at Reading, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads)
• 1 train per hour London Paddington to Swansea. Runs to Swindon then diverted via Lydney, extending journey times by approximately 35 minutes
• Trains between Cheltenham Spa and London Paddington will be slightly revised

Monday:

• 1 train per hour London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads diverted via Newbury, adding up to 30 minutes to journey times. (Calling at Reading, Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads)
• 1 train per hour London Paddington to Swansea. Runs to Swindon then diverted via Lydney, extending journey times by approximately 35 minutes
• London Paddington to Swindon shuttle service will operate every 2 hours in each direction 
• Trains between Cheltenham Spa and London Paddington will be slightly revised

Buses will replace trains between Swindon and Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Bath Spa and Bristol Parkway.

• An hourly non-stop service between Swindon and Bath Spa. Overall journey time will be extended between 30 to 45 minutes
• An hourly stopping service between Swindon and Chippenham. Overall journey time will be extended by up to 30 minutes
• An hourly stopping service between Chippenham and Bath Spa. Overall journey time will be extended by up to 35 minutes

A rail replacement bus service will also operate between Trowbridge/ Melksham and Chippenham, connecting with other bus services at Chippenham for Swindon.

The first Super Express Trains will enter into passenger service in Summer 2017, and will bring more frequent services, reduced journey times, and more seats once electrification of the line is complete.