Bath Rail Disruption as Brunel Landmarks Undergo Major Restoration

Rail passengers travelling through Bath are being urged to check their journeys later this month as major restoration work begins on two historic structures linked to Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s railway legacy.

Network Rail is set to carry out extensive refurbishment of the Grade II listed Sydney Gardens footbridge and the eastern portal of Box Tunnel, both key features of the Great Western route.

The Sydney Gardens structure, located within one of Britain’s oldest Georgian pleasure gardens, is the last surviving cast-iron footbridge of its type on the Great Western Main Line. Over the coming weeks, it will undergo a full programme of works including grit-blasting, steel and masonry repairs, repainting and the replacement of its timber deck. To protect the surrounding parkland, the bridge will be enclosed while the work is carried out.

Further east near Corsham, engineers will also restore and assess the eastern entrance to Box Tunnel, one of the most significant early railway tunnels in the UK and another landmark associated with Brunel’s engineering achievements.

To enable the work, planned closures will take place between Bath Spa railway station and Chippenham across two consecutive weekends in April and May. These possessions will also allow additional maintenance, including track renewal at Bathford and drainage improvements in Corsham.

A construction compound will be established in Sydney Gardens from Monday 13 April, with the area beneath the footbridge and nearby footpaths closed for safety. Pedestrian diversions will be clearly signposted, while a second footbridge within the park will remain accessible.

Passengers are being advised of significant service changes during the closures:

• Buses will replace trains between Bath Spa and Chippenham or Westbury on 25–26 April and 2–4 May.

• Rail tickets will be accepted on First Bus services between Bath and Trowbridge or Frome.

• Trains between London Paddington and Bath Spa will run via an alternative route between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads and will not stop at Chippenham.

• Some services will still run between London Paddington and Chippenham (except Sundays).

• GWR will continue to run trains between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa, and between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour, Frome or Weymouth.

• Additional improvement work means buses will also replace trains between Swindon and Westbury until around midday on 26 April.

• Rail replacement buses will stop in Freshford village and Westwood village, not at the stations.

Dan Parkes, Principal Portfolio Manager for Network Rail, said:

“Sydney Gardens footbridge and the Box Tunnel entrance are not just railway structures, they are irreplaceable pieces of Brunel’s legacy. Restoring them is both a responsibility and a privilege. By coordinating this work with other planned maintenance, we’re minimising disruption to passengers whilst protecting two of the most historic landmarks on our railway. If you’re planning to travel during this time, please make sure to check before you travel, as bus replacement services will be in place on some routes and journeys may take longer than usual.”

Oana Apetroaie, GWR Station Manager for Bath Spa and Chippenham, said:

“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause but the work planned will help us to maintain our train services in the area for years to come. Rail replacement services are planned for those stations affected and ticket acceptance is in place on some local bus services in the area as an alternative. It’s important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements could make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead.”

A spokesperson for Friends of Sydney Gardens said:

"The Friends of Sydney Gardens are delighted the Grade II listed footbridge designed by Brunel, is being restored. The cast-iron pedestrian bridge built in 1841, is a rare survivor of Brunel’s legacy. Brunel’s railway cuts through the centre of Sydney Gardens; a sole surviving Grade II listed pleasure garden in the UK, which deserves to be protected and preserved for future generations. We understand the Brunel Grade II listed retaining wall above the rail line will also be cleared of plant and tree growth during this Network Rail bridge restoration project. This work will improve line safety and protect the wall from further deterioration and damage. The Friends have been in discussion with Network Rail for several years about the state of the bridge and we are so pleased new funding has now been found to carry out the necessary work. The Friends very much welcome the refurbishment of this important feature of Sydney Gardens."

Image: Network Rail