Severn Tunnel Rail Closures between 3 July - 18 July

Friday, 28 June 2024 – Great Western Railway

Network Rail improvement works are taking place in the Severn Tunnel, between South Wales and the West of England, from next week. They will be carrying out track renewal and essential drainage works in the tunnel itself.

As a result, no trains will run between Bristol and South Wales from Wednesday 3 July to Thursday 18 July, as well as the weekend of Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 July.

GWR services between London and South Wales will be diverted via Gloucester and as a result these services won’t stop at Bristol Parkway. A limited number of trains will be running between Bristol Parkway and London Paddington in the morning and the evening only. GWR services from Portsmouth and the South West which usually run to Cardiff Central will instead terminate at Bristol Parkway.

There will only be a very limited rail replacement bus service in place between Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction during this closure. Customers wishing to travel between South Wales and Bristol should instead travel on trains via Gloucester, where services will continue to run to both Bristol and South Wales.

Online journey planners have been updated, and customers have also been made aware through traditional and social media, at station posters and announcements, as well as announcements on board GWR services.

Valid tickets between the South West, Bristol and South Wales will be accepted via Gloucester, this enables customers to make their journeys wholly by train and to enjoy all the usual on-board and at-station facilities. Journey times are extended by around 30 minutes.

Transport for Wales and CrossCountry train services to/from South Wales via Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa remain largely unaffected by this closure, but we would still advise checking all journeys before travelling at www.gwr.com/check, and more information on improvement works and customer advice is available at www.gwr.com/severntunnel.