Gloucester To Severn Tunnel Junction Travel Disruption In Late July: What You Need To Know

Published on July 13, 2025

Train services between Gloucester and Severn Tunnel Junction will be affected between the early hours of Sunday, 27 July and Sunday, 17 August while vital engineering work is carried out on this 35-mile stretch of line. The projects are among ongoing work to make this critical railway corridor safer, more reliable and more resilient. Buses will be used while work is carried out.

Those in the area and areas nearby advised to prepare for some delays and alternate routes. Please be advised that this work is being undertaken at this time in order to minimise the disruption to passengers and freight users, and to enable work crews able to complete these works in a safe manner.

This official travel warning to passengers details all the latest information regarding rail services, what to expect, and where to look for the latest updates.

Affected Routes and Bus Replacements

Key Changes to Travel Plans

Buses will replace CrossCountry trains for passengers travelling between Gloucester and Severn Tunnel Junction. Buses will also replace Transport for Wales trains on services between Cheltenham and Severn Tunnel Junction. These buses are being provided to ensure connectivity while the engg works are in progress.

There will be ‘no service’ between Newport and Lydney or Chepstow for passengers heading to these stations. Upgrades at these stations will include vegetation management, line painting on the platform edge, and litter removal.

Please double check for any changes to individual services as some routes could suffer from longer journey times because of the bus replacement timetables.

What’s Under Way: Upgrades and Work

Vital Upgrades to Infrastructure

These works also are part of the Severn Estuary Resilience Programme (SERP)—a significant scheme to safeguard the railway lines in this area of vulnerability. The Severn Estuary particularly is susceptible to severe weather and this can lead to coastal erosion, land slips and impact on services. To mitigate these risks, some major enhancements are in the works:

Slope Stabilisation: Grout 7,559 & grouted rock anchors and a lot of netting will be placed over 32,000m² of trackside land. This is to prevent landslips, and maintaining the safely of the railway line.

Track and Drainage: Extensive track and drainage renewal is planned in the vicinity of Newnham Tunnel to improve safety and performance of railway.

Signal Upgrades: The Gloucester Area Signalling Project will upgrade signalling systems to enable increased safety, reliability and the capability for more effective train network operations.

And crews will make efforts to control vegetation and conduct any necessary environmental work at stations and on the tracks in order to mitigate the chance of events happening that could disrupt service because of close by foliage or debris.

Why Now? Timing of the Engineering Works

A Tactical Decision to Keep The Disturbance To a Minimal Degree

Nick Millington, Route Director for Network Rail (Wales and Borders) said: “We are delivering these works to cause the least amount of disruption to passengers as possible and have worked closely with Transport for Wales to time them when trains are not running. The works are being planned at a time when there are far fewer road users – passengers and freight – enabling Network Rail to carry out these vital upgrades with as little impact as possible on the travelling public.

“As a coastal region experiencing coastal erosion and extreme weather, we need to take action now to safeguard the railway for future generations,” Millington said. “[If] we do them when the volume is less in the system, then we can ensure the infrastructure is protected for years to come.”

Check Before You Travel

Stay Informed and Plan Ahead

Passengers are advised to reconfirm their travel plans. The work in progress could cause changes in travel times or potential delays, so leave extra time. You can follow the latest travel advice on the transport operators’ websites:

Transport for Wales: Visit www. journeycheck. com/tfwrail for the latest information on train services and bus replacements.

Network Rail: For details of what engineering work is taking place and how it will affect your journey, visit www.networkrail.co.uk.

Both websites will update their journey planners to reflect the new arrangements, and station staff will also be on hand to help passengers who are struggling to negotiate the changes.

For people living near the railway, Network Rail also has an alert service that details works that will be taking place affecting the local area. To get this service, you have to sign up for the service at www. networkrail. co.uk/sign-up.

Final Thoughts: Get ready for the road

Ensure a Smooth Travel Experience

Network Rail is sorry for any inconvenience caused although passengers are being reminded about the closure so that they can plan their journeys ahead.Many people have already been planning their holidays to avoid the closure, with Easter proving a popular time.However, the following engineering work will be taking place on the railway between Gloucester and Severn Tunnel Junction which means there will be no train services until Friday, April 26 with bus replacement services in place.Passengers are advised to regularly check for updates to help ensure smooth travel.Riding to work, booking your holiday or just on the move, it’s easy to follow the latest for your journey.Thank you for your understanding and patience while these essential improvements are made to protect railway infrastructure and improve the quality of rail travel.