Autumn track work in Bristol and Bath
Over six days in October we are replacing track and points and completing other maintenance work, affecting train services between Bristol, Bath and Weston-super-Mare
Bristol West Junction track work: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October 2025
Over the weekend of Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October we’ll be replacing worn sections of Bristol West Junction, south west of Bristol Temple Meads. The junction enables trains to change lines as they make their way to and from the Westcountry.
Additional maintenance work taking place along the line includes:
- Replacing points between Parson Street station and Flax Bourton tunnel
- Correcting rail defects, re-stressing rail, testing and lubrication
- Re-profiling track stone (ballast)
- Bristol Temple Meads roof work on platform canopies, scaffolding, painting, steelwork
- Signal and track systems maintenance: train protection, detection, signal cabinets
- Parson Street Station examinations
- Drainage work including CCTV inspections and high-pressure water jetting.
We will be accessing the railway at multiple locations to complete this work, including Bristol Temple Meads, Fish Dock sidings, Fowlers motorcycles, Kingsland Road depot, Pylle Hill, Queen Anne Road depot, Bedminster Station, Honeywick Close access point, South Liberty sidings and Parson Street Station.
The work will affect train services between Bristol Temple Meads and Weston-super-Mare. Further details below.
St Anne’s tunnel track work: Monday 27 to Thursday 30 October 2025
From Monday 27 October, until the early hours of Friday 31 October we’re replacing track between Bristol Temple Meads and Keynsham, including through St Anne’s tunnel.
Working continuously 24/7 we’ll replace over a kilometre of track, installing over 1,500 sleepers and 5,000 tonnes of track stone (ballast).
Project in numbers
- During the track renewal:
- 1,020 metres of rail will be replaced
- 5,000 tonnes of ballast (track stone) will be installed
- 1,565 sleepers will be installed
- Up to 65 workers will be out on track at any one time.
Additional maintenance work taking place along the line includes:
- Lifting track and re-packing stone
- Re-profiling stone
- Replacing small track components
- Correcting rail defects
- Maintenance on track circuits (part of the signalling system that logs the location of passing trains).
During the four days we will be accessing the railway at Bristol East Depot (Eldon Way in Brislington), St Anne’s Park former station access point, Keynsham station, Cole Road, the former North Somerset Junction and Queen Anne Road depot.
The work will affect train services between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa station. Further details below.
Travel arrangements
Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 October: Bristol Temple Meads to Weston-super-Mare
- Replacement buses are planned between Bristol Temple Meads and Weston-super-Mare, but these will not stop at Bedminster or Parson Street stations
- Valid rail tickets can be used on local bus services including the A1 Airport Flyer for Bedminster or Parson Street stations
- GWR trains will still operate between Weston-super-Mare and Exeter St Davids
- Due to industrial action by RMT Union there will be no CrossCountry services between Bristol and the south west on Saturday 18 October. On Sunday 19 October CrossCountry trains will operate in the south west using an alternative route, extending journey times by up to an hour.
Monday 27 to Thursday 30 October: Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa
Hourly trains between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads will use an alternative route via Bristol Parkway – not stopping at Chippenham or Bath Spa.
Trains will also run every hour between London Paddington and Bath Spa via Chippenham.
Trains will still run between:
- Bristol Temple Meads and Cardiff Central or Gloucester
- Bath Spa and Westbury, Portsmouth Harbour, Frome or Weymouth
Replacement buses are planned between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa. Valid rail tickets will also be accepted for travel on a number of First West of England buses. See GWR.com/upgrade for details.