Local News · Swindon
Rail travellers in Swindon face disruption over Halloween and early November
By Swindon Now Editorial Team · Published
Engineering works on the Great Western Railway network will affect services through Swindon during the weekends surrounding Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Rail passengers travelling through Swindon are being advised to plan their journeys in advance as Great Western Railway (GWR) prepares for upcoming engineering works that will impact key routes over the next three weeks.
The disruption is set to take place in two distinct phases, affecting travel towards London Paddington, Bristol Parkway, and South Wales.
Disruption over the Halloween weekend
The first significant period of disruption is scheduled for the weekend of October 31 and November 1. During this time, GWR has confirmed a reduction in service frequency, with many trains between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway cancelled or diverted. Services operating between London Paddington and Swindon will also run to a revised timetable.
Passengers travelling towards South Wales should be aware that most trains leaving London Paddington, Reading, Didcot Parkway, and Swindon will depart earlier than normal throughout the weekend. Furthermore, local services will be affected; specifically, the 10.53am service from Swindon to Bristol Temple Meads on Sunday, November 1, will not operate.
Engineering work on November 8
A second, more intense period of disruption is planned for Sunday, November 8, due to engineering works occurring between Didcot Parkway and Swindon. All lines between these two stations will remain closed until 10.55am, with no train services operating during this window. A rail replacement bus service will be in operation to assist passengers.
The closure will result in the following service adjustments:
Services from Bristol Temple Meads, Swansea, and Weston-super-Mare will terminate at Swindon, with passengers required to use replacement buses for the remainder of their journey towards London.
Trains scheduled from Swindon to London Paddington at 8.37am and 9.15am will instead start from Didcot Parkway, with replacement buses provided from Swindon to connect with these services.
Other trains on the route will be diverted away from Swindon entirely.
Passengers are urged to check the latest timetables and real-time journey information on the GWR website before setting out, as further local changes may occur.
Source: Swindon Advertiser · View original