The South West
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- James Crook: 07732 644202
- Emily Maiden: 07701 067861
This area includes the Great Western Main Line and its branches, covering the route from London Paddington to Penzance, through Bristol and onto Pilning, up to the boundaries with Wales, Worcester and Basingstoke. It operates and maintains over 900 miles of track, enabling the running of over 2,000 services a day. Train operators include Great Western Railway, South West Railway, CrossCountry, Chiltern Railways and Heathrow Express.
Latest news for this route
Network Rail extends working hours on Oxford station upgrade to compensate for delay caused by historic discoveries
A Victorian brick archway and a hand grenade are among some of the unique challenges that temporarily paused progress on the major project, with round the clock shifts now set to begin.
Essential upgrades set to begin on Henley branch line
Buses will replace trains for four days, from Monday 14 August, on the line between Twyford and Henley-on-Thames, as Network Rail carries out vital track improvements.
Technical challenges extend bridge replacement work in Bradford on Avon
Network Rail has confirmed that the work to replace St Margaret Street Bridge in Bradford on Avon, Wiltshire, will now last until the end of November, following a number of technical challenges that have arisen during the course of the work.
Secretary of State for Transport officially opens Bristol’s first new station in almost a century
This morning (Monday 31 July), representatives from Network Rail and train operator GWR joined the Secretary of State for Transport, the Mayor of Bristol and the Mayor of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) to open Bristol’s first new railway station in 96 years.
South West rail passengers to benefit from a more reliable railway as Network Rail gets set to start cliff resilience work
Resilience work on the cliffs between Dawlish and Holcombe to help protect the iconic coastal railway line for future generations is due to start this week.
Passengers reminded to check before travelling with just one week to go before the start of major railway upgrades in Oxford
The start of a nine-day period of intensive track and signalling work around Oxford station begins on 29 July, supporting an increase in train services and ushering in a new era in passenger and freight train travel for the city and wider county.
‘Beethoven on the Bridge’ returns to Reading station to serenade passengers for the first time since the pandemic
This Saturday (15 July) passengers at Reading station will be treated to fabulous live music courtesy of the Aldworth Philharmonic Orchestra (APO), who’ll be performing Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 alongside three famous marches as part of ‘Beethoven on the Bridge’, which sees APO return to the station’s transfer deck for the first time since the pandemic.
Secretary of State for Transport marks completion of Dawlish sea wall, protecting South West railway for generations to come
This morning (Monday 3 July), Network Rail, the wider rail industry, the local council and local school pupils joined Secretary of State for Transport, The Rt Hon Mark Harper MP, in Dawlish, Devon, to mark the completion and official opening of the £80m sea wall.
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