Power supply upgrade and track renewal work: buses replace trains between Bristol Parkway and Newport (South Wales) from Saturday 23 May to Monday 8 June 

Route(s) affected

Great Western Railway between London Paddington and Cardiff Central / Swansea / Carmarthen / Pembroke Dock and between Bristol Temple Meads / Portsmouth Harbour and Cardiff Central

Description

Engineering work is taking place in the Severn Tunnel, closing all lines. Overhead power supply upgrades and track renewal work will be carried out.

Due to the closure of the Severn Tunnel:

Trains between London Paddington and Swansea (some beyond to / from Carmarthen / Pembroke Dock) will divert (hourly) between Swindon and Newport (via Gloucester calling additionally). They will depart London Paddington, Reading and Swindon much earlier than normal. They will not call at Bristol Parkway.

There will be trains (approximately 2 hourly) between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway, otherwise Bristol Parkway customers should travel via Bristol Temple Meads for connecting rail services.

At Gloucester:

Diverted trains from London Paddington will call at Gloucester to pick up only.

Diverted trains to London Paddington will call to drop off only.

Some trains from Bristol Temple Meads to London Paddington will arrive / depart Swindon and beyond a few minutes later than normal.

Trains between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour will divert to start / terminate Bristol Parkway. They will regain normal route at Filton Abbey Wood. Also most trains between Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads will operate between Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads.

Trains between Cardiff Central and Taunton / Exeter St Davids will start / terminate Bristol Temple Meads.

Please check journey planning systems for connections from / to Cardiff Central including by rail via Gloucester.

Local stopping trains between Filton Abbey Wood and Bristol Temple Meads will not run.

Most Bristol Parkway to Portsmouth Harbour trains will call additionally at Ashley Down, Stapleton Road and Lawrence Hill.

Replacement buses will operate between:

• Bristol Parkway and Newport (South Wales) fast (2 buses per hour) taking 50 minutes

• Bristol Parkway and Newport (South Wales) stopping service (1 bus per hour) calling at Severn Tunnel Junction, Patchway)

(Late night buses from Bristol Parkway will drop off only at Newport and will continue though to Cardiff Central)

Additionally, your ticket will be accepted at no extra cost on the following alternatives:

• M4 Metrobus services between Bristol Parkway and Patchway stations

• T7 TrawsCymru services between Bristol and Chepstow bus stations

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner.

You can plan your journey on buses by using the Traveline website.

Replacement bus travel advice:

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.

You can find the pick-up and set-down location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.