24/01/2008

Landslip Closes Railway Line

A landslip in the Chipping Sodbury area has closed the main line running between London to Bristol and South Wales.

The landslip has closed the closure of the line between Bristol Parkway and Swindon in both directions.

First Great Western has released details of changes in services as a result of the incident. There will be an hourly train service from London Paddington to Swansea at 45 minutes past each hour. These trains will run over an alternative route, which is expected to add up to 40 minutes to journey times. The trains will not stop at Bristol Parkway and will call at Patchway instead, with coach transport between the two stations.

There will be an hourly train service from Swansea to London Paddington at 29 minutes past each hour. These trains will run over an alternative route after Newport, which will also add up to 40 minutes to journey times after departure from Newport. These trains will also stop at Patchway, instead of Bristol Parkway, with coach transport between the two stations.

The London Paddington to Cardiff Central service operating at 15 minutes past each hour from London will not be running, nor will the Cardiff Central to London Paddington service at 55 minutes past each hour from Cardiff.

First Great Western said that it is estimated that the line will remain closed for a number of days and said that it would need to be completely rebuilt, including stabilisation work, new foundations and new track and signalling.

(KMcA)


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