Rail passengers travelling through Bath later this month are being asked to plan their journeys in advance as Network Rail begins major restoration work on two iconic railway structures.
Sydney Gardens footbridge will undergo grit‑blasting, steel and masonry repairs, a full repaint and the complete replacement of its wooden deck over the next three months.
Further along the line, engineers will also repair and survey the Grade II-listed eastern entrance of Box Tunnel.
Scaffolding for both projects will be installed during planned railway closures between Bath Spa and Chippenham on two consecutive weekends in April and May. These closures also support other essential maintenance, including track renewal at Bathford and drainage improvements in Corsham.
Passengers are strongly advised to allow extra time and check their journey before travelling at nationalrail.co.uk or GWR.com/Upgrade.
Those attending the TCS London Marathon on Sunday 26 April are also urged to plan ahead.
Travel information
- 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.
GWR Station Manager for Bath Spa and Chippenham, Oana Apetroaie, 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.”
Network Rail Principal Portfolio Manager, Dan Parkes, 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.”
The Grade II-listed Sydney Gardens footbridge is the last surviving cast‑iron footbridge of its kind on the Great Western Mainline. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and set within one of Britain’s oldest Georgian pleasure gardens, the bridge is a rare and revered piece of Victorian engineering history.
A work area has been set up in the existing Bath & North East Somerset Council compound in Sydney Gardens. For safety, the area beneath the footbridge, including the footpath, will be closed. To protect the surrounding parkland, the bridge will be fully wrapped while work takes place.
Clear pedestrian diversions will be in place, and the second footbridge in the park will remain open throughout.
Image credit: GWR
