Rail engineering works

This summer, work is being undertaken to improve the rail services in Wiltshire and around Bath and Reading.  Full information about all changes is provided by First Great Western.  The key changes in Wiltshire are:

March to May TransWilts limited timetable

TransWilts services are operating a different timetable on Saturdays, Sundays or Bank Holiday Mondays. Rail replacement buses may replace some services. Printed timetables may not be accurate, so please check with National Rail Enquiries using their online journey planner or phone service.

Bath Blockade

The Bath railway corridor is being prepared for electrification. This heralds the introduction of new, higher capacity, electric trains that will improve customer journeys and benefit local economies once introduced from summer 2017.

18^th – 31^st July

These changes affect the Bristol -Bath-Chippenham-Swindon-London Paddington line

• There will be one service an hour stopping at Chippenham
• There will be one service an hour between Bath and Swindon, which will not stop in Chippenham
• Some TransWilts services will be replaced by buses

1^st August – 31^st August

The railway between Chippenham and Bath and Trowbridge to Bath will be closed. Services will still be running between Bath and Bristol.

Trains between Portsmouth and Cardiff will be diverted to Swindon and will provide direct services between Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge and Salisbury during this period.

Rail replacement buses will be operating east of Bath. Please check the times with First Great Western.

 If you regularly commute to work on these routes, you might want to consider:

• working from home
• booking a holiday at this time
• Leaving extra time for your journey where buses replace rail services
•  car sharing

Remember that bicycles cannot usually be carried on replacement bus services.