Gloucestershire train passengers heading to London to face week of …
Direct trains between Cheltenham Spa[1] and London Paddington will not be operating this week causing travel misery[2] for London-bound rail commuters. Network Rail will be carrying out essential maintenance in Kemble to make journeys more reliable.
Work will take place from 7am to 7pm each day from Monday August 21 to Thursday August 24 between Kemble and Sapperton to cut back overgrown vegetation near the railway and improve drainage to ensure trains can run smoothly for years to come.
GWR will be operating rail replacement bus services[3] to Kemble, Stroud and Stonehouse[4] as there will be no trains stopping at these stations. Passengers can still travel to Gloucester[5] and Cheltenham Spa by train via Bristol Parkway.
Meanwhile engineers were due to replace track and ballast near Stroud[7] over these four days, but this work has been postponed as dormice were found in the area.
It is currently dormice breeding season which means they cannot be disturbed as they are covered by a protected species licence in the area.
Network Rail says it is committed to protecting and maintaining the natural environment and habitats so have instead decided to carry out less disruptive work.
Jonathan Skirton, Network Rail[8] infrastructure manager, said: “Our teams need to maintain vegetation and drainage near to the railway to reduce flood risk and keep the tracks safe.
“We’re sorry for the disruption to passengers but this work will ensure journeys are more reliable for years to come.”
Ben Scott, GWR’s station manager for South Cotswolds, added: “This work is part of an ongoing programme that will enable us to maintain services for customers travelling to or from Gloucestershire[9].
“We’ll provide alternative road transport and work with other train companies to ensure customers can still complete their journeys during this time.”
Passengers are urged to check before they travel at https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/check-your-journey[10]
References
- ^ Cheltenham Spa (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ causing travel misery (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ rail replacement bus services (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Stonehouse (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Gloucester (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Gloucester railway station underpass to stay closed until autumn as power snag delays revamp (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Stroud (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Network Rail (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ Gloucestershire (www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk)
- ^ https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/check-your-journey (www.gwr.com)