PASSENGERS travelling between Cardiff and Bristol Parkway are advised to check before travelling on weekends from 31st October to 6th December while Network Rail carries out essential improvement work.

Engineers will be working in the Severn Tunnel every weekend from late October until early December. The tunnel is closed every year to allow this essential work to be carried out safely, with the work carried out on weekends when the railway is quieter. This year the work was postponed to ensure that fans travelling to Cardiff for the Rugby World Cup were not disrupted.

On the weekends of 31st October to 1st November, 21st and 22nd November, 28th and 29th November and 5th and 6th December, services between Cardiff and Bristol will be diverted via Gloucester, adding approximately an hour to journey times.

The railway will also be closed between Cardiff and Newport on the weekends of the 7th and 8th and 14th and 15th November so that work can be carried out as part of a project to modernise the railway in South Wales. This includes replacing ageing signalling equipment, enhancing track layouts, building new platforms and improving stations. During these weekends, rail replacement bus services will operate between Cardiff and Bristol.

Paul McMahon, acting route managing director for Network Rail Wales, said: “With more and more people travelling by rail every day, our work to modernise the railway in South Wales is absolutely vital to supporting economic growth in the region.

“Re-signalling the railway in the Cardiff area will help to improve the reliability of rail services and carrying out annual essential maintenance in the 130-year-old Severn Tunnel ensures the railway continues to remain safe and reliable for passengers.  

“I’m sorry that our work means changes to services, but with fewer passengers travelling over the weekends, this gives us the best opportunity to do this improvement work – a crucial part of our Railway Upgrade Plan – while minimising disruption to passengers.”

Passengers are advised to check journey plans on train operators’ websites or by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk. 

Members of the public who have questions about the improvement work can call Network Rail’s 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 114141 or email [email protected].