This week (Monday 12th – Thursday 15th) is the first of the line closures affecting rail passengers at Bedwyn and Pewsey as Network Rail and Great Western Railway undertake improvements to the rail infrastructure to enable electrification of the line to Newbury.
When complete, we will see new trains serving Bedwyn and Pewsey, with more seats, improved reliability, and crucially the continuation of direct services between Bedwyn and London Paddington which are so important for everyone living and working locally.
I am in regular contact with Mark Hopwood, Managing Director of GWR and Mark Langman, Western Route Managing Director, Network Rail to ensure that Constituents are properly informed about the closures and the service alternatives which are in place and I have received the attached letter with more information. Following my intervention, season tickets (<1 month) from Pewsey, Bedwyn and Hungerford can also be used at Chippenham and Swindon, and on South Western Railway Services from Salisbury, Grateley and Andover, in addition to Basingstoke and Whitchurch.
I do appreciate that local rail passengers (and especially season ticket holders) will see some inconvenience over the next few months, but I am confident that in due course we will see the benefits of the electrification programme with new trains, improved reliability, and continuation of our through services at Bedwyn.
GWR & Network Rail have told me that they will of course review the communication and travel plan following first week of the closures and I will continue to work closely with both organisations. Please do email me at claire.perry.mp@parliament.uk with your feedback.
https://www.gwr.com/travel-…/planned-engineering/newbury2018