Swindon Town

IF you are going to Wembley on Sunday 24 May Network Rail are conducting improvement works which will affect your journey by train. Unfortunately this means that there are no train services out of Swindon station on that day.

There will be additional coach services from Swindon station to Reading where you will be able to jump onto a fast service to London Paddington. Journey times between Swindon and London Paddington are expected to take two hours.

If you live towards the west of Swindon and would normally travel from Chippenham, Network Rail would recommend you travel from Westbury into London Paddington. Half-hourly services between Bath Spa and London Paddington are to be diverted calling at Reading and London Paddington only, extending journey times by 30 minutes.

Unfortunately Network Rail is unable to postpone their improvement works, without significantly impacting the electrification of the Great Western mainline.

Patrick Hallgate, Network Rail’s managing director for the Western route, said: "The work we undertake over public holidays is planned many months and frequently years in advance.

"Over the late May bank holiday we will be undertaking testing of the new signalling equipment that has been installed at Swindon. This essential testing can only take place when trains aren’t running, and for safety and reliability reasons must occur before the new signalling equipment is brought into use. Once in operation this new equipment will help to improve reliability and will pave the way for electrification and the arrival of a new fleet of longer, faster, quieter and greener electric trains.

"We apologise to passengers for the inconvenience caused by this work and urge them to check before they travel through National Rail Enquiries or through train operator, First Great Western.”

Last trains home:

- 2337 London Paddington to Swindon (Changing at Reading for coach service)

- 2347 London Paddington to Didcot Parkway

- 2100 London Paddington to Westbury (Changing at Bath Spa for connecting services)

- 2337 London Paddington to Bath Spa