Changes are being made to parts of the Great Western Railway (GWR) timetable this weekend which could affect commuters travelling to and from south Wales. Direct train services between Bristol and Oxford are set to continue throughout December, with additional carriages being added to some Sunday services.
However, GWR has advised customers to double-check their regular train times due to changes in the timetable. The trial that began in September, reinstating direct trains between Bristol and Oxford, will carry on as part of GWR’s December timetable change. Travellers in south Wales have also been urged to pay close attention to the new timetable, as significant amendments have been made to GWR’s services in the region due to major timetable changes by Transport for Wales.
While most changes are minor, some services have been retimed by up to 11 minutes arriving into Cardiff. In response to shifts in customer demand, GWR is also planning to increase the number of carriages on some early Sunday morning trains on key routes, effectively doubling the seating capacity on certain services from Cheltenham to London Paddington and from Great Malvern to London Paddington. For the latest Welsh news delivered to your inbox sign up to our newsletter.
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Sunday journey times on the line between Bristol and Weymouth are set to improve, with some trains departing slightly earlier, reducing total journey times by up to 17 minutes. In addition, a new direct service from Cheltenham to Bristol, via Stonehouse/Stroud/Kemble/Swindon and Chippenham/Bath/Bristol, will be introduced on Saturday mornings. This train will provide a direct link from Cheltenham to Chippenham and Bath, while also helping to alleviate demand on the later 8.59am service from Cheltenham to London.
The operator has also promised further minor changes to free up more seats on long-distance trains. The new timetable will commence on Sunday, December 15 for Sunday services, and from Monday, December 16 for weekday services. You can check your journey here.