| Re: Line closure Swindon - Bristol Parkway 6 July - 2 August & 8-9 Aug Posted by grahame at 06:17, 20th May 2026 |     |
The frequency of services between London and South Wales will be reduced to hourly due to the longer journey times diverting trains via Chippenham instead.
Additional services will also be provided between London Paddington and Swindon by extending some trains between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway.
Replacement road transport is not planned as train services will still be operating between Swindon and Bristol Parkway.
Additional services will also be provided between London Paddington and Swindon by extending some trains between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway.
Replacement road transport is not planned as train services will still be operating between Swindon and Bristol Parkway.
Makes sense to do the work all at once, and also not provide road transport; still quicker by train, and no intermediate stations at all since June 1968, so buses would be pointless.
Noting that though that the reason given for reducing the frequency of trains from London to South Wales was due to "longer journey times" which makes it a double hit - less trains and on top of that slower travel. Could part of the reason also be that the remaining trains are diverted via the old diesel railway with no electric railway alternative route? Another bonus of the incomplete electrification.
| Line closure Swindon - Bristol Parkway 6 July - 2 August & 8-9 Aug Posted by John D at 09:52, 19th May 2026 | |
Been announced that direct line via Chipping Sodbury and Badminton will be closed for a month this summer.
Trains will be diverted via Chippenham and Bath (no doubt with usual congestion delays)
Track renewals, structural repairs and drainage work will impact train services between London and South Wales.
Trains still run between London Paddington and Swansea, Carmarthen or Pembroke Dock using an alternative route – extending journey times by around 25 minutes.
The frequency of services between London and South Wales will be reduced to hourly due to the longer journey times diverting trains via Chippenham instead.
Additional services will also be provided between London Paddington and Swindon by extending some trains between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway.
Replacement road transport is not planned as train services will still be operating between Swindon and Bristol Parkway.
Trains still run between London Paddington and Swansea, Carmarthen or Pembroke Dock using an alternative route – extending journey times by around 25 minutes.
The frequency of services between London and South Wales will be reduced to hourly due to the longer journey times diverting trains via Chippenham instead.
Additional services will also be provided between London Paddington and Swindon by extending some trains between London Paddington and Didcot Parkway.
Replacement road transport is not planned as train services will still be operating between Swindon and Bristol Parkway.
https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/planned-engineering
