Rail improvement work to affect Gloucester station

Gloucester railway station will not be able to accommodate direct trains to/from London for a six-day period as Network Rail work to improve the track in readiness for more frequent services later this year.

Long distance, direct trains between London Paddington and Cheltenham Spa will be unable to call at Gloucester from Sunday 21 to Friday 26 July.

Local stopping services between Cheltenham Spa and Swindon will run from Tuesday 23 July for the remainder of the week but will not be able to do so on either Sunday 21 or Monday 22 July. 

These services will be able to call at Gloucester, using the far end of Platform 1, from Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 July up until 2200. Buses will replace trains on Sunday and Monday.

Network Rail is replacing a section of track on the route towards Lydney and South Wales as well as carrying out work in the station itself.

Gloucester Station Manager Richard Morrish said:

“I would like to thank customers in advance for their patience as this work is carried out – which supports our plans to operate more frequent services and quicker journeys from December this year.”

Those driving to the station should also note that the station car park at Cheltenham Spa and the main car park at Gloucester will both be closed to accommodate the rail replacement bus service from 2000 on Friday 19 July until 2359 on Saturday 27 July.

There is an alternative car park at Gloucester on Great Western Road but there is no alternative at Cheltenham Spa – APCOA have said permit holders at both station can use the overflow at Gloucester.

In addition, if there are spaces, permit holders can also park in the overflow car park at Kemble station if they’d prefer – where trains will be running towards Swindon/London Paddington.

For customers at Gloucester, it’s also worth noting that the Horton Road level crossing will be closed to vehicles and pedestrians between Saturday 20 and Saturday 27 July.

Network Rail Project Manager Sarah Fraser said: 

“This work means that passengers will benefit from a more reliable service to and from Gloucester as well as a better station experience with improvements to some of the platforms making them safer.

“In December, passengers in Gloucester will also benefit from the introduction of a faster, hourly service to London.”

CrossCountry trains between Nottingham and Cardiff Central will terminate at Cheltenham Spa on Sunday 21 and Monday 22 July and Platform 1 at Gloucester from Tuesday 23 to Friday 26 July.

Transport for Wales trains between Maesteg and Cheltenham Spa will terminate at Newport on Sunday 21 July and at Lydney from Monday 22 to Friday 26 July.

Buses will replace trains between those stations affected.

This upgrade work will support our plans for more Intercity Express Trains to run direct between London Paddington and Cheltenham Spa from December this year.

Notes to editors

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