Network Rail has successfully completed a four-day track replacement project on the busy route between Bristol and Bath. Work began on Monday (27 October) and involved installing new rail, sleepers, and stone through St Anne’s Tunnel, continuing around the clock before finishing in the early hours of Friday 31 October as planned.

Up to 65 engineers were on site at any one time, laying more than a kilometre of rail, 1,565 sleepers, and 5,000 tonnes of stone. Additional maintenance work was also carried out at other points along the line.

During the project, train services between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa were replaced by buses to keep passengers moving while essential work was carried out.

Mark Parker, lead portfolio manager for Network Rail, said: “This work has been a vital piece of maintenance to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of train services on the busy mainline between Bristol and Bath. While we do our best to keep disruption to a minimum there is inevitably an impact on rail passengers and also potentially for residents. I’d therefore like to thank everyone for their patience while this work was completed.”

Oana Apetroaie, GWR station manager for Bath Spa and Chippenham, added: “We’re pleased that train services are now running again between Bath Spa and Bristol Temple Meads and thank customers for their patience. These track works help support the reliability of a key section of the railway for the region, helping people to travel sustainably.”

Image: Network Rail