PEOPLE planning to use the recently implemented rail service between Carmarthen and London are being urged to check the service before they travel this weekend due to track upgrades.

Great Western Railway recently started an extension to their London Paddington to Swansea service, with trains going onto Carmarthen.

However, ongoing engineering work this month means that there will be different travel routes for people using this service.

The engineering work is being carried out by Network Rail from today, Friday, June 9 to Sunday, June 18 and on Sunday, June 25 around the Severn Tunnel, which means that services will be impacted during this time.

There is also additional engineering work that will affect trains between Newport (Gwent) and Cardiff Central on Saturday, June 10 and Sunday, June 11.

During this period the following will be in place:

  • Trains will still be running between London and South Wales but will be using a different route and therefore will not be stopping at Bristol Parkway, except for on June 10 and 11.
  • On June 10 and 11, trains will run between London Paddington and Bristol Parkway and there will be shuttle trains between Cardiff Central and Swansea/Carmarthen.
  • Buses and coaches will operate between Bristol Parkway and Newport, and extending to Cardiff Central on June 10 and 11.
  • CrossCountry and Transport for Wales will operate replacement road transport on the weekend of June 10 and 11 between Newport and Cardiff Central.

There is, however, a shortage of bus and coach drivers on that weekend, so there will be fewer rail replacement services running than planned.

CrossCountry and Transport for Wales have agreed to accept Great Western Railway tickets for customers travelling between Bristol and South Wales via Gloucester.

People travelling to Cardiff on Friday, June 16 to see Blondie or Peter Kay in concert or to watch Wales v Armenia will need to allow extra time for their journeys and check both journeys.

David Bailey, Great Western Railway’s customer service manager for South Wales, said: “These upgrades in the Severn Tunnel form part of an ongoing programme of work that will enable us to maintain services for those travelling to or from South Wales.

“We’ve been working with other train companies to provide alternatives to ensure that our customers can still complete their journeys during this engineering work.

“Customers for Newport may prefer to travel by train via Gloucester on the weekend of 10/11 June instead of a replacement bus from Bristol Parkway.”

For the latest information, visit www.gwr.com/severntunnel