Travellers are advised to anticipate significant disruption across the West’s rail lines and roadways for several days as various improvement works commence.
Great Western Railway (GWR) will initiate planned track renewal around Bristol. The work is scheduled to take place between Bath Spa and Westbury on Sunday, 27 October, and from Monday to Thursday, 31 October, between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads. During this time, no trains will operate between these stations.
Additionally, long delays are expected near the A4 Globe Roundabout connecting Bristol and Bath, commencing on Friday and lasting until 3 November, owing to temporary traffic lights.
On Sunday, there will be train services running between Bath, Bristol, and Cardiff; however, rail replacement services will be provided from Bath to the Wiltshire stations.
From Monday through Thursday, the line connecting Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads will be closed, with buses replacing train services.
GWR has announced that one train per hour will operate between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads via an alternative route, which will not stop at Chippenham or Bath Spa. Another train service will run to and from London Paddington as far as Bath Spa.
Rail Disruption Schedule:
Sunday, 27 October
Train Services:
Between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads or Cardiff Central
Between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour or Weymouth
Replacement Buses:
Between Bath Spa, Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, and Westbury
Between Bath Spa, Freshford, Avoncliff*, and Bradford-on-Avon
*Buses will stop in Westwood Village
Monday, 28 to Thursday, 31 October
Train Services:
Between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads using an alternative route (not stopping at Chippenham or Bath Spa)
Between Bath Spa and Westbury, Portsmouth Harbour, or Weymouth
Between Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central, Gloucester, or Worcester
Replacement Buses:
Planned between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads
Disruption is also anticipated from later today on the roads surrounding the A4 Globe Roundabout near Newton St Loe. Wales and West Utilities will commence work around 21:00 BST on Friday, 25 October, with the project expected to be completed by Sunday, 3 November.
While no road closures will be implemented for these works, the A4 Globe Roundabout will be regulated by temporary signals, which the council warns may result in long delays.
Councillor Manda Rigby, the cabinet member for Highways, stated: “We’ve worked with Wales and West Utilities to minimise the impact these works will have on the highway network but given their location and impact on the A4 Globe Roundabout, we do expect delays. We specifically allowed these works to take place over the school holidays to take advantage of reduced traffic.”
