Check Before You Travel as upgrade work takes place between Swindon and Bristol

Passengers travelling between South Wales, Bristol Parkway and London Paddington are reminded to Check Before You Travel from this weekend as Network Rail prepares to undertake a series of major upgrades and electrification work on the line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway.

Network Rail will undertake electrification work in Chipping Sodbury and Alderton tunnels as well as beginning the construction of a new platform at Bristol Parkway to enable Great Western Railway (GWR)’s new fleet of Intercity Express Trains to operate. These brand new trains will deliver over a fifth more seats per train, more frequent services and reduced journey times for passengers.

To take place from Saturday 19 August to Friday 15 September, the work is a key part of the modernisation of the Great Western mainline, allowing the new trains to run.

The upgrade includes the installation of the Overhead Line Equipment (OLE) used to hold the wires for electrification, platform upgrades at Bristol Parkway station and the introduction of a flood resilience scheme at Chipping Sodbury to make the railway more reliable.

Network Rail’s major programmes director David Buisson said:

“The upgrade between Swindon and Bristol Parkway is vital as we continue to deliver electrification and a more reliable railway for our passengers.

“I’d like to thank residents living near to the railway and passengers for their continued support throughout the modernisation work which forms part of our Railway Upgrade Plan.”

GWR operations director Rob Mullen said:

“The work in the Bristol Parkway area is a crucial part of Network Rail’s Great Western mainline upgrade which, with the roll-out our new fleet of Intercity Express Trains, will provide the greatest step-change in experience for our passengers in a generation.

“It is an exciting time with new trains due to enter service in a matter of months. This work is key to delivering the full benefits these new trains will bring.”

Bristol Parkway will remain open throughout, but there will be no trains calling at the station from 2-15 September. A full list of service amendments is available here: http://www.GWR.com/BristolParkway2017.

Passengers can check their journeys before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk and www.GWR.com

For more information on GWR’s new trains please click here.