Train services between Bristol/Gloucester and South Wales will be disrupted over the last weekend in January because of essential engineering work.

On Saturday, 25th and Sunday, 26th January, Network Rail will be replacing 522 yards of track through platform 2 at Severn Tunnel Junction station and 275 yards at Llandevenny, between Severn Tunnel Junction and Newport stations. Normal services are due to resume on Monday, 27th January.

Five engineering trains will be used to supply 2,000 tonnes of ballast and 730 sleepers at Severn Tunnel Junction. At Llandevenny, four engineering trains will supply1,150 tonnes of ballast and 420 sleepers. Engineers will take advantage of the line closure to carry maintenance inside the Severn Tunnel, including maintenance of the overhead line equipment (OLE).

The closure will also allow completion of work to stabilise a cutting between Awre and Purton alongside the Severn Estuary that has deteriorated because of recent periods of adverse weather, including high rainfall, snow, and ice. In 2023, a mesh system was installed on the cuttings to protect the line from landslips.

During the closure. Transport for Wales will operate a rail-replacement bus service between Newport and Gloucester/Cheltenham Spa.

Great Western Railway will operate a rail-replacement bus service non-stop from Bristol Parkway to Cardiff Central and from Bristol Parkway to Newport, and additional services will stop at Patchway and Severn Tunnel Junction.

Great Western Railway services continue operating from Bristol Parkway to Swindon, Bristol Temple Meads, and Gloucester, and on Saturday between Patchway and Bristol Temple Meads. Great Western Railway services will also run between Newport and Swansea/Carmarthen.

Last July, all 4.3 miles of track through the tunnel in the Wales-bound direction were replaced.

“We recognise there is never a good time to close the Severn Tunnel and the Gloucester line at the same time, but we have planned this work to minimise disruption as much as possible. The location of the track renewal – where life-expired track must be replaced – means both lines must be closed for our teams to safely carry out the work. With the lines closed, we are also taking the opportunity to replace the track at Llandevenny, which is on the single line heading up to the Bishton flyover and can only be carried out with all lines blocked. We apologise to customers who were planning to travel on those lines over the weekend of January 25-26 and ask them to check before they travel. We are committed to investing in railway infrastructure in Wales and Borders, in order to deliver reliable and low-carbon transport, and this £890,000 track renewal is a key part of that.”

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director