Planned engineering work in the Bristol area may affect your rail journey

Network Rail will renew track and structures in the Bristol Parkway area in June and carry out essential maintenance of the electrical power supply in the Severn Tunnel in July. 

This track work means no trains can run through Bristol Parkway on Sundays 12, 19 or 26 June: 

• Trains between London and South Wales will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport – stopping at Patchway instead of Bristol Parkway 
• CrossCountry trains will use an alternative route between Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Temple Meads – stopping additionally at Gloucester but not Bristol Parkway 
• Buses will replace all train services to/from Bristol Parkway 

GWR Regional Manager for the area, Alex Hills, said: 

“The track upgrades near Bristol Parkway enable us to maintain services over a vital junction on the rail network for customers travelling north, south, east or west. 

“And the work inside the Severn Tunnel helps to support our South Wales services, especially those trains running under electric power between England and Wales. 

“Where possible we will divert trains via an alternative route, or provide alternative road transport, to ensure that customers can make the journeys we know they need to.” 

The Severn Tunnel maintenance work will affect train services from Friday 1 to Sunday 10 July: 

• Trains between London and South Wales will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport – stopping at Gloucester instead of Bristol Parkway 
• A limited train service will run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway on weekdays only – otherwise travel via Bristol Temple Meads instead 
• Buses replace trains between Bristol Parkway and Newport 
• Buses also replace trains at Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road for Filton Abbey Wood or Bristol Parkway on Friday 8 and Saturday 9 July 

Dave Stanbury, Programme Director, Works Delivery (Construction Services) for Network Rail, said: 

“I’d like to thank passengers and local residents for their patience while we carry out this essential maintenance and upgrade work. 

“We’ll be working on three consecutive Sundays in June to keep the railway open for passengers during the week and will use the opportunity provided by these railway closures to maintain the drainage systems between the Chipping Sodbury and Alderton tunnels, minimising the need for future closures. 

“Once complete, this section of the line will see fewer delays, ensuring that passengers travelling via Bristol Parkway continue to experience safe and reliable journeys. 

“We’ll also be carrying out essential maintenance work in the Severn Tunnel this July to support the electric trains that serve passengers either side of the River Severn. 

While travelling on the railway this summer, please continue to check before travelling by visiting the GWR website or using National Rail Enquiries, as there may be changes to your usual journey to allow us to complete these vital upgrades. 

For the latest information, visit our website at GWR.com/Bristol. 

 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 was recently awarded an extension to its direct award franchise (called DA3), which shall run up to 31 March 2023, with an option to extend for a further year. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us