Rail passengers are being warned of disruption due to planned engineering works taking place in the Bristol area on Sundays 12th, 19th and 26th June 2022.
Network Rail will replace tracks between Swindon and Patchway as well as carry out essential maintenance on the lines near Gloucester. This means that no train services can run via Bristol Parkway on these dates.
Trains between London Paddington and Swansea will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport, stopping at Patchway instead of Bristol Parkway.
Connecting buses will run between Patchway and Bristol Parkway.
Trains will run between Worcester and Gloucester, plus between Bristol Temple Meads and Westbury. Buses will replace trains between Gloucester and Bristol Temple Meads.
CrossCountry trains will be diverted via Gloucester between Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Temple Meads, not stopping at Bristol Parkway.
On Sunday 12th June, buses also replace trains between Gloucester and Swindon until 1600.
Work in June 2022
Description of work being caried out (from Network Rail’s South Gloucestershire webpge):
Filton
We need to replace a section of track on the relief lines that run through Filton Abbey Wood station. We’ll be working through a number of day and night shifts as well as one continuous block of work from 2340 on Saturday 11th June until 0335 on Monday 13th June.
Chipping Sodbury to Alderton
Drainage refurbishments are needed along the open line between Chipping Sodbury tunnel and Alderton tunnel. The bulk of this work will be completed on three consecutive Sundays – 12th, 19th and 26th June, with shifts starting from 2340 on the Saturday night through to 0450 on the Monday morning. We are also taking the opportunity to renew some of the track inside Chipping Sodbury tunnel at the same time.
Westerleigh
A section of track that runs parallel to Shire Way and Wapley Bushes needs to be replaced and we’ll be doing this at the same time as the Chipping Sodbury to Alderton drainage work, focused around three consecutive Sundays – 12th, 19th and 26th June.
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.”
Further work in July
Description of work planned for July (from Network Rail’s South Gloucestershire webapge):
Friday 1st to Sunday 10th July
We are returning to the Severn Tunnel this summer, to replace a 4-kilometre stretch of track on the Welsh side of the tunnel. The work will be completed during a 10-day closure of the line between England and South Wales, from the evening of Friday 1st July until the early hours of Monday 11th July 2022.
Making best use of the opportunity while we have access to work on the line, we will be carrying out maintenance on electrification equipment inside the tunnel, as well as other projects at Pilning, Patchway and Stoke Gifford.
Trains between London Paddington and Swansea will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport, not stopping at Bristol Parkway.
Buses will replace trains between Bristol Parkway and Newport.
Further details of the impact of this work will be published by the Journal nearer the time.
More information: Service changes through Bristol (GWR)
Industrial action
UPDATE added 15th June 2022.
Rail passengers will additionally have to contend with disruption to services over the period Tuesday 21st to Sunday 26th June 2022 as a consequence of strikes by RMT union members that are planned to take place on 21st, 23rd & 25th June.
A spokesperson for National Rail said:
“The rail industry has introduced a temporary timetable. Please only travel by train if necessary. If you are travelling expect severe disruption and plan ahead.”
Related links:
- Industrial Action (National Rail)
- Updates on Industrial Action (GWR)
