The first stage of Network Rail’s track renewals in the Kennet Valley will start on Saturday 18th February and run through to Thursday 2nd March. During this period the line will be closed from Pewsey, through Bedwyn and Newbury as far as Theale. Replacement buses will make journeys a lot longer. However, after a request from Bedwyn Train Passenger Group season tickets from Bedwyn, Hungerford and Kintbury will be valid from Whitchurch, Andover, Overton, Greatly and Basingstoke. This is in addition to Didcot and Swindon (GWR stations). Though in the latter case the season ticket must be at least a monthly.
The replacement bus timetables are now in the journey planners. Click here for an example. Unfortunately GWR have been unable to source offering buses direct to Theale. Journeys from Bedwyn to Paddington with one change at Theale will now take 2 hours 10 minutes.
Steve Smith from Bedwyn Train Passenger Group commented, “During previous blockades, there have been occasions when buses have not turned up, been late or driven by drivers who did not know the route. Please have a low threshold to complain. If you complain via us we can get straight on to it with GWR senior management – email: info@bedwyntrains.org.uk
And don’t forget, if you reach your destination station fifteen minutes or more late you can claim a refund. Please click here.
Please always claim. The more it costs the rail industry the more likely we will get a fix.
If you want to surrender unused tickets please click here.”
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