Rail users warned of delays as flood work begins

Rail passengers are being urged to plan ahead as the latest stage of flood prevention work begins between Swindon and Bristol Parkway.

Network Rail says work is taking place in and around the Chipping Sodbury tunnel "around the clock" until Sunday.

Network Rail project manager George Barratt said it will "help improve reliability and make the railway more resilient".

During the work, the railway will be closed between Swindon and Bristol Parkway, with train journeys taking longer as they are diverted via Chippenham and Bath.

The Chipping Sodbury tunnel, north of Bristol, was built in 1901 and is prone to flooding during wet weather.

A lagoon was installed in 2018 as part of a flood alleviation scheme designed to improve the resilience of the railway line.

Network Rail is working alongside the Environment Agency, South Gloucestershire Council, the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group and Wessex Water to find long-term solutions to flooding.

This project will see 200m (656ft) of track raised by 20cm (7.8in), with overhead cables adjusted accordingly.

Drainage channels will be dredged to collect water and two water removal pumps are being replaced, with plans to replace two more in the future.

GWR station manager for Bristol Parkway Marcus Deegan said the work is the latest in a wider scheme to "ease the effect of flooding on the railway and in the surrounding area".

During the work, there will be fewer services between south Wales and London, with that route also affected by longer journey times on 20 July due to follow-up work.

Between now and Sunday, additional peak-time trains will run between London Paddington and Swindon.

Ongoing battle

It is hoped the work will enable trains to operate for longer during heavy rain and shorten the length of any closures.

"We're not necessarily trying to stop flooding, we're trying to keep passengers and freight moving more often," said Mr Barratt

"It's safe to say that this is an effect of climate change - we are experiencing wetter winters and drier and wetter summers.

"It's an ongoing battle that we have to face and we're working not just on this section of railway but thinking how we can keep passengers moving between major stations."