REMINDER: CHRISTMAS ENGINEERING WORK – THE REBUILDING OF THE RAILWAY GOES ON

Tuesday 21 Dec 2004

REMINDER: CHRISTMAS ENGINEERING WORK – THE REBUILDING OF THE RAILWAY GOES ON

Region & Route:: | Wales & Western: Wales & Borders; | Wales & Western: Western; | Wales & Western

Engineering work will be taking place over the Christmas period near Bristol Parkway. Each year the railway closes on Christmas Day and Boxing Day (except for the Heathrow Express, Eurostar and a few Southeastern Trains services, which run on Boxing Day). And each Christmas break the company takes advantage of this traditional two-day closure to carry out an extensive programme of engineering work. The principal work to take place outside the traditional two-day period in Wales and the West Country is engineering work near Bristol Parkway at Westerleigh Junction from 27 December until 31 December (inclusive). First Great Western, Virgin Cross Country and Wessex services will not be stopping at Bristol Parkway during this time. Diversionary routes and replacement bus services will be in place in certain circumstances, adding times to journeys. Peter Leppard, Network Rail’s Acting Western Route Director, said: “This Christmas will be busier than ever for Network Rail, its staff and contractors, as our job to rebuild the railway continues. “Tens of thousands of dedicated railway staff will be hard at work over the festive break, forgoing their Christmas dinners and time with their families to undertake massive engineering tasks, helping to deliver a better performing railway.”

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