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Friday 13 Sep 2024

Emergency repairs mean that Gunnislake branch line in Devon and Cornwall will be disrupted for two weeks

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail is advising passengers that the Gunnislake branch line, which runs from Plymouth, Devon, to Gunnislake, Cornwall, will be partially closed from today (Friday 13 September) to allow engineers to carry out emergency repairs to a bridge. The partial closure is expected to last for two weeks.

Engineers discovered a structural defect and track issue on a bridge between Calstock and Gunnislake this morning, following a routine inspection. As a result, the train service between those two stations will need to be suspended for a fortnight to allow for emergency repairs to take place.

Passengers are advised that:

• On Friday 13 September, buses will replace trains between Plymouth and Gunnislake.
• Services over the weekend are likely to be disrupted but alternative transport is being sourced where possible. Please check before you travel.
• From Monday 16 September, rail replacement buses will be in operation between Calstock and Gunnislake. Trains will run between Plymouth and Calstock.

Devonport, Dockyard, and Keyham stations will continue to be served by trains running between Plymouth and Penzance.

Passengers can check their journeys with www.nationalrail.co.uk

Network Rail’s director for Devon and Cornwall, Chris Fuoco, said: “We’re sorry for the disruption to journeys as a result of the emergency repair work taking place between Calstock and Gunnislake.

“We will continue to work with our train operator colleagues to keep people moving; passengers are advised to check before they travel as journeys between Calstock and Gunnislake will be made via rail replacement buses.

“We are estimating currently that our work may take two weeks to complete, yet we will endeavour to improve on this in any way we can to restore a reliable service to our customers.

“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these vital repairs.”

GWR Station Manager for Plymouth and East Cornwall, Lee Goodson, said: “We are really sorry for the disruption this work will cause and would like to thank our customers in advance for their patience while Network Rail repairs this vital bridge.

“We’re working to put alternative transport in place over the weekend, but these are likely to be extremely busy and journeys may take longer. Customers should check before they travel.

"From Monday, trains will run between Plymouth and Calstock, with rail replacement buses in operation between Calstock and Gunnislake. These will run as per the normal train timetable.”