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Monday 12 May 2025

Check before you travel: maintenance work to affect journeys between Bristol and South Wales during June

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

Passengers are being advised to plan ahead during June with train services affected through South Gloucestershire and the Severn Tunnel while vital maintenance takes place over a two-week period.

From Monday 9 until Friday 20 June, and on Sunday 29 June, Network Rail will be replacing track in the Filton and Stoke Gifford areas, as well as completing other work between Pilning and Severn Beach.

With the line closed, teams are also taking the opportunity to complete maintenance on the overhead power lines through the Severn Tunnel itself.

Travel arrangements (9 – 20 June and 29 June 2025)

There will be no direct trains between Bristol and South Wales on these dates:

• Services between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour start/terminate at Bristol Parkway
• Services between Cardiff Central and Taunton or Exeter St Davids start/terminate at Bristol Temple Meads

Monday 9 to Saturday 14 June, plus Monday 16 to Friday 20 June

• Customers travelling between Bristol and South Wales should change at Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa, where trains will still be running to/from South Wales.
• Trains between London and South Wales will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport – stopping at Gloucester instead of Bristol Parkway.
• A limited train service will still run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway.
• Replacement buses are also planned between Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction/Newport, but these will be limited services only.

Sunday 15 June

• Rail replacement services are planned to operate between Bristol Parkway and Newport or Cardiff Central on this date.
• Trains will still run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway, plus between Newport and Swansea or Carmarthen.
• Trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads will also be reduced to hourly services.

Sunday 29 June

• Customers travelling between Bristol and South Wales can change at Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa, where trains will still be running to/from South Wales.
• Trains between London and South Wales will be diverted via Gloucester, not stopping at Bristol Parkway, until around 1600.
• A limited train service will run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway.
• Replacement buses are also planned between Bristol Parkway and Newport until 1530.

Please note, ticket acceptance will be in place, meaning free travel with a valid rail ticket on buses:

• Metrobus m4 bus services Bristol Parkway <> Patchway (all dates)
• TrawsCymru T7 bus services Chepstow <> Bristol (9-20 Jun only)

Network Rail programme director Ross Mahoney said:

“I’d like to thank train operators, passengers and our freight customers for their patience as we work on this busy section of the route between Bristol and South Wales over this two-week period.

“The main focus is on replacing track in the Filton and Patchway areas of South Gloucestershire. Following last year’s track replacement inside the Severn Tunnel we’re also returning there to complete maintenance on the overhead power lines while the line is closed. On the Wales side, we’ll be taking advantage of the closure to carry out maintenance of the overhead line equipment as well as track and vegetation work.

“All of this work is vital to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the railway.”

Marcus Deegan, GWR Station Manager for Bristol Parkway, said:

“This work forms part of an ongoing programme of investment, helping to ensure we can continue to provide consistent and reliable services.

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

“We can only provide a limited replacement bus service between Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction or Newport in the morning and the evening Monday to Saturday.

“So, like last summer, customers should stay on the train and change at Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa where trains will be running to or from South Wales.

“On Sunday 15 June there will be a full rail replacement service between Bristol Parkway and Newport or Cardiff Central as our trains will not be diverted via Gloucester.

“It’s important customers are aware the alternative travel arrangements in place on these dates will make journey times at least an hour longer than usual.

“In addition, major concerts are also planned to take place during this period in Cardiff and in Bath so please check your journey details in advance.”

ENDS