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Friday 3 Oct 2025

Network Rail apologises to passengers as Gloucester line closure extended by a day to allow for completion of essential signalling upgrade

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Network Rail has confirmed that the line through Gloucester will remain closed on Monday 6 October as essential work to upgrade the signalling system is taking longer to complete than originally planned.

The railway has been closed since Saturday 27 September while engineers worked around the clock to replace more than 10,000 wires in Gloucester signal box as part of a full electrical upgrade. The line was expected to open on Monday 6 October, with over 12 miles worth of wiring having been replaced. While the electrical upgrade work has been successfully completed, the testing of the new system is taking longer than anticipated and services through the station will now resume on Tuesday 7 October.

The signalling system at Gloucester controls trains travelling from Bristol, Worcester, Swindon and south Wales, and was installed in the late 1960s, making it some of the oldest signalling equipment on Network Rail’s Western route. The modernisation of the system will ensure rail services can continue to run safely and reliably through the area. 

Travel advice

While the railway remains closed on Monday there will be no trains running south from Cheltenham. A limited bus service will replace trains on the following routes:

• Cheltenham Spa to Gloucester and Lydney
• Cheltenham Spa to Gloucester and Bristol Parkway
• Cheltenham Spa to Gloucester and Kemble
• Cheltenham Spa to Worcester Shrub Hill (via Worcestershire Parkway)

Passengers are advised to check their journeys with National Rail Enquiries or their train operator before travelling.

Marcus Jones, Network Rail’s Western route director, said: “We’re very sorry for the disruption this extended closure will cause for passengers and thank them for their patience while we complete essential testing of the new system.

“Gloucester signal box is a vital control centre that guides trains through this area, which is one of the busiest hubs for train movements in the west. This upgrade is a huge undertaking as the equipment we’ve replaced has been in use for decades. Once complete, the newly modernised system will enable the continued safe and reliable running of trains long into the future.”

Chloe Coglan, GWR station manager for Cheltenham and Gloucester area, said: “Due to the over-running engineering work on the signalling that controls trains in the Gloucester area train services are unable to operate as planned.

“As a result, GWR cannot operate any trains between Gloucester and Worcester Shrub Hill, Kemble or Bristol Parkway on Monday.

“A limited rail replacement service will be provided instead until the lines affected can be reopened again by Network Rail.

“We apologise for the inconvenience this will undoubtedly cause to some customers and we hope to have trains running again.

“Please note, rail replacement services will mean there will be reduced parking spaces available at Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa, plus Bristol Parkway and Stroud stations.”

CrossCountry’s regional director, Georgia Ehrmann, said: “We want to thank passengers for their continued patience while the works are completed. As soon as the railway lines are reopened we will resume our full service through Cheltenham to the South West."

Adam Terry, head of performance at Transport for Wales added: “We’d like to thank all our customers for bearing with us while important improvement works are underway. We’re working hard to get everything back on track once works are completed, and as soon as the railway lines reopen, we’ll be running our full service again through Lydney and on to Gloucester.

“Rail replacement services will be in operation and we encourage customers to check our website for the latest information”.