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Rail passengers are being urged to check before they travel ahead of essential electrification work in Cardiff, which forms part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan for Wales.

Passengers are reminded that services will not run between Oxford, Didcot Parkway and Banbury for nine days from Saturday 22 July as Network Rail undertake vital work which will improve will improve line speeds into and out of Oxford when final commissioning is completed in summer 2018.

Users of the renowned Warleigh Weir beauty spot at Claverton are being urged to pay more attention to the railway after reports of five near misses with trains in as many weeks.

The railway line between Chippenham and Swindon re-opened today (Monday 17 July) after Network Rail completed a £3.5m drainage upgrade and track-lowering project, improving reliability of the railway through the area and paving the way for a new fleet of trains.

A new delay-busting Traffic Management system on the Great Western Railway will boost performance on train journeys between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway. Thanks to a two year contract agreed between Network Rail and the British signalling & train control specialists, Resonate, a one year trial of ‘Luminate’ Traffic Management System could see reactionary delays reduced by up to 15%.

Network Rail has thanked residents and commuters for their patience after successful improvement work was carried out to Onibury level crossing between Leominster and Shrewsbury.

• Work will allow line between Chippenham and Swindon to be electrified
• Upgraded drainage will help make services more reliable

Residents living in Oxford are invited to find out more about a crucial upgrade through the city which will see a section of the railway closed for nine days as progress is made towards improving line speed in and out of Oxford.