Network Rail is carrying out the renewal of track and structures in the Bristol Parkway area during June, with July also seeing essential maintenance work undertaken in the Severn Tunnel’s electrical power supply.

Work being carried out to the track means that no trains will run through Bristol Parkway on Sundays the 19th and 26th of June and will see the following changes being put in place:

• Trains between London and South Wales will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport, stopping at Patchway in place of Bristol Parkway
• CrossCountry trains will use an alternative route between Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Temple Meads with an extra stop at Gloucester but not Bristol Parkway
• Buses will replace all train services to and from Bristol Parkway

Dave Stanbury, Network Rail‘s programme director for works delivery (construction services), 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.”

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.”

Maintenance work being carried out on the Severn Tunnel will affect train services from Friday the 1st to Sunday the 10th of July as follows:

• Trains between London and South Wales will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport, stopping at Gloucester in place of Bristol Parkway
• Limited train services will operate 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 will also replace trains at Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road for Filton Abbey Wood or Bristol Parkway on Friday the 8th and Saturday the 9th of July

For further information about Network Rail’s work in the South Gloucestershire area, please visit: https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/western/south-gloucestershire/

For further information about changes to GWR services throughout the engineering work, please visit: https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/planned-engineering/bristol