Update on travel between Swindon and Gloucester/Cheltenham Spa in April 2014

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From a First Great Western press release:

Important information for travel between Swindon and Gloucester/Cheltenham Spa in April

First Great Western is encouraging customers travelling between Swindon and Gloucester during April to check journey times and routes prior to travelling, as Network Rail conducts essential maintenance work to its infrastructure.

With Network Rail continuing a ^45m project to upgrade the line, from Saturday 12 April to Tuesday 15 April road transport will replace trains between Swindon and Gloucester.

On Monday 14 April and Tuesday 15 April there will be a limited direct train service from Cheltenham Spa/Gloucester to London Paddington via Bristol Parkway. At other times customers will also be able to use First Great Western and Cross Country services to Bristol Parkway and change there for direct services to London Paddington.

From Friday 18 April to Monday 21 April, trains will operate between Cheltenham Spa/Gloucester and Swindon to an amended timetable. Customers for London Paddington should change at Swindon.

Once complete in August, the line upgrade between Swindon and Kemble via Gloucester and Stroud will allow for future increased capacity as well as enabling us to reduce delays, providing a more reliable train service.

Mark Hopwood, First Great Western Managing Director said: ^This upgrade is vitally important to improve our customers^ travel experiences for the future. These works to the network infrastructure will pave the way for faster, more reliable services and makes the most of the Government^s planned investment in electrification and new trains ^ whoever has the privilege of running the franchise beyond 2015.^

While the impact of the work will be minimised, some rail services will be affected during this project. 

Customers can expect journeys to take between 30-55 minutes longer than usual. FGW^▸ (First Great Western) tickets will be permitted for use by other train companies. Click for more information

The planned work will include the reinstatement of the second line between Swindon and Kemble, upgrade to earthworks along the route to accommodate this new track and new signalling equipment. This capability will be essential during the planned electrification of the Great Western main line when Bristol Parkway and Severn Tunnel are closed and south Wales trains are diverted along this route.

Network Rail will also need to close the line between Swindon and Gloucester on the week leading up to and over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Passengers are advised to check their travel plans online at www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk or www.nationalrail.co.uk, or to call FGW customer services on 03457 000125.