Swindon <-> Westbury service updates and amendments, ongoing discussion - 2026

[whole diary]

[grahame]

12:17 Westbury to Swindon due 13:01
13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57

13:14 Swindon to Westbury due 13:57 will be cancelled.
This is due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge.

Cancellations to services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham

Due to a road vehicle colliding with a bridge at Freshford all lines are blocked. Disruption is expected until 14:15 17/06.

Train services between Swindon and Westbury via Melksham will be cancelled.

Customer Advice

Due to a lorry hitting a bridge, it has been necessary to divert affected trains through Melksham. As a result, the regular Melksham service is suspended, however, where possible we will try and call additional trains at Melksham.

[JohnM]

I can see the 10:23 Portsmouth - Cardiff service is now diverted via Melksham (12:28).

[Mark A]

Ah: checking Google maps there's a road closure 'till 4 pm at Hawkeridge Road south of Trowbridge, so I thought it would be that rail overbridge.

Driving the road beneath Limpley Stoke a couple of days ago was an opportunity to check that, desplte the series of bridge strikes there - and Network Rail / Wiltshire County Council both being aware of issues with signage and vegetation overgrowth, nothing has been done to address either - and indeed, after the turn off the A36, the sole warning of the low bridge ahead, mounted low on a pole containing another road sign - the undergrowth has practically covered that one.

Mark

[JohnM]

I can see the 10:23 Portsmouth - Cardiff service is now diverted via Melksham (12:28).

...as is the 11:09 Gloucester - Weymouth, although currently showing as 'delayed' for Melksham (12:43, Chippenham 12:34 'information unavailable').

[chipbury]

Yes it was the Limpley Stoke bridge again!  I cycled past at midday and there were 3 Network Rail people leaning on their truck.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for your update post here, chipbury. 

My understanding is that railway staff can merely lean on their truck - provided they are wearing hi-viz while doing so.

[grahame]

Oh dear ...

05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:10
05:11 Gloucester to Southampton Central due 08:10 will be terminated at Swindon.
It will no longer call at Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Dilton Marsh, Warminster, Salisbury, Romsey and Southampton Central.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47
06:35 Salisbury to Worcester Foregate Street due 09:47 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Trowbridge, Melksham, Chippenham, Swindon, Kemble, Stroud, Stonehouse, Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, Ashchurch For Tewkesbury, Worcester Shrub Hill and Worcester Foregate Street.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

We are not the only ones ... Gunnislake also lost their first train and in our area also

07:00 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 08:20
09:08 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 10:26
11:03 Oxford to Bristol Temple Meads due 12:13
13:09 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 14:29
21:10 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 22:27

21:10 Bristol Temple Meads to Oxford due 22:27 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

No advice to passengers on Journeycheck as what they should do.  With the 06:29 southbound cancelled at Melksham, the next train is at 09:10 - ouch.   With the 07:21 in the other direction cancelled, the first train in the 08:02.   With both trains cancelled, connections to the Bristol travel-to-work area are blown.  Normal customer advice would be to catch the 271/272 bus to Manver Street in Bath and cross the road into Bath Spa station for an ongoing train, but road works in Bath have Manvers Street closed for the summer and autumn.

Cut and paste passenger advice (not given this time) suggests "Option 4 - consider postponing your journey" which just might be OK for the leisure market.  My personal suggestion would be the Bath bus and walk across the city for fit people, or perhaps the x34 to Trowbridge (Trinity Church for the station) or Chippenham (where the early and Sunday services call at the railway station).

[bobm]

Posted at the same time as those alterations were “additional” trains from Westbury to Southampton Central and Swindon to Worcester Foregate Street. 

So at least some commuters were served.

[grahame]

Posted at the same time as those alterations were “additional” trains from Westbury to Southampton Central and Swindon to Worcester Foregate Street. 

So at least some commuters were served.

Indeed - somewhat ironic that the extras were on sections of the route where there are alternatives.  Just saying.

[grahame]

18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21

18:37 Westbury to Swindon due 19:21 has been delayed at Chippenham and is now 29 minutes late.
This is due to a fault with the signalling system earlier today.

[bobm]

It left Westbury 19 minutes late and then lost another 10 at Bradford Junction.  Finally arrived in Swindon 25 late.

[grahame]

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58

20/06/26 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

[TaplowGreen]

14:19 Westbury to Swindon due 15:01
15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58

20/06/26 15:14 Swindon to Westbury due 15:58 will be cancelled.
This is due to a shortage of train crew.

Looks like they've been reinstated.

[grahame]

17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55

17:44 Swindon to Salisbury due 18:55 will be terminated at Westbury.
It will no longer call at Warminster and Salisbury.
This is due to the emergency services dealing with an incident.

[grahame]

21:34 Swindon to Westbury due 22:16

21:34 Swindon to Westbury due 22:16 has been delayed at Swindon and is now 15 minutes late.
This is due to train crew being delayed by service disruption.