Two-Week Rail Closure for Landmark Severn Tunnel Overhaul

Passengers travelling between Newport and Bristol Parkway railway station are being urged to plan ahead as major engineering work inside the Severn Tunnel is set to shut the railway for more than two weeks.

The closure will run continuously from Saturday 23 May until the early hours of Tuesday 9 June, with replacement bus services and diversionary routes being introduced to keep passengers moving during the disruption.

The programme will see Network Rail and contractor ARQ carry out a major overhaul of the Severn Tunnel’s overhead electrification system. The upgrade is designed to tackle long-running corrosion problems caused by the tunnel’s harsh environment beneath the Severn Estuary, where constant moisture and saltwater have accelerated wear on infrastructure since electrification was introduced.

Stretching for 4.35 miles beneath the estuary, the tunnel is regarded as one of the toughest operating environments anywhere on the British rail network. Engineers say the current overhead system has required increasingly frequent maintenance because of corrosion and electrical deterioration.

To solve the issue, Network Rail’s Wales and Borders team has developed a new overhead line design using a single 7km copper contact wire supported by modified bridge arms. The system has already been trialled successfully and will now be installed throughout the tunnel in what is being described as a world-first deployment on this scale.

The wider programme of work will include:

• Replacing 838 bridge arms supporting the overhead electric wires inside the tunnel
• Renewing 9,000 metres of overhead wiring through the Severn Tunnel
• Carrying out track, drainage and wider infrastructure improvements in the Bristol and Patchway areas

At the same time, engineers will also continue work linked to the new Bristol Brabazon railway station development on the former Filton airfield site. The station is expected to open later this year and will restore passenger services to the Henbury line for the first time since 1964.

Nia Watkins, regional asset manager for Network Rail Wales and Borders, said:

“Running beneath the Severn Estuary, the 4.35-mile Severn Tunnel is one of the most challenging environments on the UK rail network, making this work essential to maintain safe, reliable services and support its long-term future. Using an innovative solution developed by our teams at Network Rail, this complex and highly coordinated upgrade is being delivered at a world-first scale across the tunnel’s full length - making the railway more resilient and reducing the risk of future disruption for passengers and freight. Alongside this, we’re also renewing track that will serve the new Bristol Brabazon station, which will bring passenger services back to the Henbury and Portishead lines for the first time in over 60 years, supporting local communities and economic growth. The station is due to open later this year and will bring passenger services back to the Henbury line for the first time since 1964. We recognise this work requires the temporary closure of the railway between Newport and Bristol Parkway, and we’re grateful to passengers and local communities for their patience while we carry out these important upgrades.”

Image: Network Rail