Nine-day train disruption starts this weekend

Trains will not stop at Gloucester Railway Station between 27 September and 5 October

Train disruption is expected for passengers in Gloucester as essential work to upgrade the station's signal box begins.

No trains will run this weekend or next and some services will be diverted between Monday and Friday.

Great Western Railways spokesperson Chloe Coglan said "a comprehensive bus replacement service" had been planned to keep passengers moving.

The electrical system upgrade will involve replacing some 10,000 wires - the equivalent of 12 miles of wiring.

Express buses

GWR has warned passengers they should expect longer train journeys across nine days of "intensive" engineering work.

No trains will run in Gloucester this weekend, 27 to 28 September, and disruption will continue until Sunday 5 October.

On weekends, buses will replace trains at Lydney, Cheltenham Spa, Worcester, Bristol Parkway, Kemble and Swindon.

There will also be express buses running between Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Parkway.

During the week, from 29 September to 3 October, trains will run from Cheltenham Spa to Bristol Parkway/Swindon but will not stop at Gloucester.

Instead buses will connect passengers from Gloucester to surrounding stations.

On weekdays, there will also be additional buses covering Worcestershire Parkway to Ashchurch, GWR said.

'Key control centre'

The operator said the "critical infrastructure upgrade" would help secure reliable services and "prevent future service failures" while also maintaining safety standards.

Ms Coglan, GWR station manager at South Cotswolds, added: "These signals are the digital brain controlling all train movements through Gloucester and beyond and it is important that we invest now to maintain the railway."

Valid rail tickets will be accepted on local bus services.

Passengers are also being warned that there will be reduced parking at Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, Bristol Parkway and Stroud.

Ben Perkins, from Network Rail, said: "Gloucester signal box is a key control centre to guide trains safely through a very busy area."

"It's vital for passengers that it remains in good working order and this work will ensure trains continue to run smoothly long into the future."