Bristol rail improvements | Great Western Railway

What's happening?

The railway in and around Bristol is being transformed over the next few years to pave the way for more rail services so we can move more people, more reliably.

Improvements to the tracks and signalling in the area will ease congestion and enable us to run more trains in the future.

More rail improvement work will be taking place affecting trains via Bristol Parkway as well as train services between Bristol and South Wales.

Track renewal and maintenance work will affect train services via the Severn Tunnel. As a result, there will be no direct trains between Bristol and South Wales on these dates:
- Services between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour start/terminate at Bristol Parkway
- Services between Cardiff Central and Taunton or Exeter St Davids start/terminate at Bristol Temple Meads
Monday 9 to Saturday 14 June, plus Monday 16 to Friday 20 June

Customers travelling between Bristol and South Wales should change at Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa, where trains will still be running to/from South Wales.

Trains between London and South Wales will use an alternative route between Swindon and Newport – stopping at Gloucester instead of Bristol Parkway.

A limited train service will still run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway.

Replacement buses are also planned between Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel Junction/Newport, but these will be limited services only.

Sunday 15 June

Rail replacement services are planned to operate between Bristol Parkway and Newport or Cardiff Central on this date.

Trains will still run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway, plus between Newport and Swansea or Carmarthen.

Trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads will also be reduced to hourly services.

Sunday 29 June

Customers travelling between Bristol and South Wales can change at Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa, where trains will still be running to/from South Wales.

Trains between London and South Wales will be diverted via Gloucester, not stopping at Bristol Parkway, until around 1600.

A limited train service will run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway.

Replacement buses are also planned between Bristol Parkway and Newport until 1530.

Important to note

GWR tickets will be accepted for travel at no extra charge on CrossCountry or Transport for Wales train services to/from Gloucester or Cheltenham Spa.

Valid rail tickets can also be used to travel between Bristol Parkway and Patchway on the number 19 or m4 buses on all dates.

Looking ahead

Rail improvement work will affect the following train services:

Bristol Parkway to Swindon – Monday 7 to Sunday 13 July

Useful information

Bristol Temple Meads will be the focus of a great deal of activity in the next few years as the station is transformed to meet growing demand.

As part of the Bristol Rail Regeneration Programme, the station will undergo a major transformation that will enhance the customers’ experience.

Visit the Network Rail website for more information about the Bristol Rail Regeneration programme.

Service changes through Bristol

What's happening?

Bristol to South Wales – Monday 9 to Friday 20 June, plus Sunday 29 June

Looking ahead

Useful information