Rail journeys between Bristol and South Wales have been affected by engineering work

Rail services will be affected by track replacement work in the Severn Tunnel and essential maintenance in the Patchway area during July.

The planned engineering works will affect trains between Bristol and South Wales from Wednesday 3rd to Thursday 18th July, with additional works over the weekend of 27/28 July.

• Trains between London Paddington and Swansea, Carmarthen or Pembroke Dock will run but divert via Gloucester – no stop at Bristol Parkway
• A limited train service will run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway – otherwise travel via Bristol Temple Meads.
• Trains will run between Portsmouth Harbor and Bristol Parkway
• Trains also run between Penzance, Plymouth or Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads
• Trains will continue to run between Bristol Temple Meads and Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa, where trains to/from South Wales will run
• Limited replacement buses are planned between Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction (Mon-Sat) or Newport (Sun only)
• Valid train tickets will also be accepted on the M4 bus service between Bristol Parkway and Patchway stations

Unlike previous Severn Tunnel blockages, there will not be a full rail replacement service – customers can travel by train and change at Gloucester.

Additional engineering work will also take place over the weekend of 24/25 August, affecting train services running normally between Bristol and South Wales.

For the latest information, visit GWR.com/SevernTunnel.

Marcus Deegan, GWR Station Manager for Bristol Parkway and Swindonsaid:

“This rail improvement work is part of an important maintenance program to ensure we can continue to provide customers with a consistent and reliable service.

“To maintain rail connections to and from South Wales, some of our trains will use a different route than normal, via Gloucester, making journeys slightly longer.

“We can only offer a limited replacement bus service between Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction on Monday to Saturday mornings and evenings.

“So instead we are asking customers in the Bristol area to stay on the train and change at Gloucester for train services to South Wales and vice versa.

“There will be a full rail replacement service on Sundays between Bristol Parkway and Newport as fewer trains will run between Bristol and Gloucester.”

Nick Millington, Route Manager Network Rail Wales and Borderssaid:

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “We recognize that there is never a good time to close the Severn Tunnel, but we have planned this essential work to minimize disruption as much as possible.

“Our dedicated teams will be working 24/7 in challenging conditions to deliver the largest tunnel track replacement for many years, which is vital to the continued safe and reliable operation of the tunnel services train along this busy route.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience – and urge them to check their journeys before travelling.”

A number of major events, including concerts, are scheduled to take place in Cardiff city centre, plus Chepstow Racecourse, so please check carefully before you travel.