Gloucestershire rail disruption as major engineering works shut key routes

Passengers travelling across Gloucestershire are being warned to expect disruption over the next two weekends as major engineering work takes place on the railway.

Network Rail will temporarily close sections of the network while engineers carry out track renewals, install new equipment and undertake drainage improvements designed to boost reliability and resilience.

The work will also support the ongoing construction of Charfield railway station, alongside additional upgrades at Cheltenham Spa railway station and Kemble railway station.

On Saturday 11, Sunday 12, Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 April, replacement buses will operate for some Great Western Railway services between Gloucester and Bristol Parkway, Gloucester and Stroud on Saturdays, and Gloucester and Swindon on Sundays.

CrossCountry services will continue to run between Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Parkway via an alternative route, calling at Gloucester and Newport. Additional services will also operate between Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa.

Mark Parker, lead portfolio manager at Network Rail, said:

“We’ll be working non-stop over the next two weekends to complete this essential work to improve journeys for passengers throughout Gloucestershire. If you’re planning to travel by rail, please make sure to plan ahead as some journeys will be altered with bus replacement services on some routes.”

Chloe Coglan, station manager for Cheltenham and Gloucester at Great Western Railway, said:

“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause but the work planned will help to maintain train services across Gloucestershire for years to come. Trains between Cheltenham Spa or Gloucester and London Paddington will start or terminate at Stroud on Saturdays, but these won’t run on Sundays. To help customer to complete their journeys, replacement road transport will be provided for those stations affected on both weekends. It’s important customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements may make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead.”

Image: Network Rail