Rail passengers warned of disruption due to works

Passengers are being advised to check before they travel over the bank holiday weekend in Gloucestershire and Bristol due to planned engineering works.

Some Great Western Railway services, including Gloucester to Stroud and Gloucester to Bristol, will be replaced with buses across the weekend.

Network Rail says it will be carrying out "vital" upgrades, including replacing some track near Gloucester, repairing bridges near Stonehouse and Wickwar tunnel, and upgrading platforms at Gloucester station.

Mark Parker, Network Rail lead portfolio manager, said: "We're sorry to close the railway for a short time but we'll be taking full advantage to get our teams on the track."

Work is due to take place from Saturday to Monday.

Trains will run between London Paddington, Swindon and Stroud on Saturday and Monday but not on Sunday.

There will be more disruption on Saturday 10 May and Sunday 11 May, when no rail services will run between Paddington, Swindon and Stroud.

Trains will operate between Gloucester and Worcester on all dates.

However, CrossCountry trains will use an alternative route between Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Parkway – stopping additionally at Gloucester and Newport.

CrossCountry and Transport for Wales services between Cheltenham Spa/Gloucester and South Wales via Lydney will be unaffected.

Replacement buses are planned between:

• Gloucester and Stroud (Saturday and Monday)

• Cheltenham Spa/Gloucester and Swindon (Sunday, plus 10 and 11 May)

• Gloucester and Bristol Parkway (Saturday, Monday and 10 May)

• Gloucester and Bristol Temple Meads (Sunday and 11 May)

As an alternative, valid rail tickets can also be used to travel on some local buses.

No direct train services will operate between Bristol Parkway and South Wales on 10 May, with customers instead having to travel via Lydney or to Bristol Temple Meads.

Chloe Coglan, interim station manager for Cheltenham Spa and Gloucester, said: "This work forms part of an ongoing programme of investment in the railway, helping to ensure we continue to provide consistent and reliable services."

Mr Parker added: "We'll be working at many different sites and completing as much work as possible to keep the railway in good shape for years to come."

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