Rail passengers are facing further disruption as essential maintenance is carried out to the track in the Severn Tunnel. Trains between south Wales and England are set to be diverted or replaced by buses when the tunnel is closed for nine days in June and for a Sunday towards the end of the month.
Engineers will be replacing 3.2km of old track, as well as 5,200 sleepers (track supports) and 14,000 tonnes of ballast (supporting stone) over a ten-day period. Network Rail says that salt water makes for a corrosive environment inside the tunnel and track that would usually last 25 years needs to be replaced every ten. The new sleepers will be coated in tin to extend their life.
In 2022, Network Rail replaced 3km of track on the Monmouthshire side of the tunnel. This June, the track will be replaced on the south Gloucestershire side. The new track will ensure more reliable journeys for passengers as well as reducing the need for emergency closures for track repair work. Network Rail says engineers will be working 24/7 over the ten days to reduce the length of the disruption. Here is how services will be impacted:
