Westbury area track and signalling upgrades

Over four weeks this winter we’re upgrading track and signals at Westbury station and strengthening Sherrington viaduct on the line down towards Salisbury

Project timeline

Preparations are underway throughout the autumn. The bulk of the work will take place during a solid four-week period of 24-hour working. This’ll start from Christmas Eve 2024 until the early hours of Friday 24 January 2025.

Follow up work continues on Saturday night shifts up until June 2025, with two longer weekend shifts in February and March 2025.

What work is taking place?

Over a solid four-week period we’ll be carrying out extensive track renewal work. This’ll take place from Christmas Eve through to the early hours of Friday 24 January 2025. We’ll be fully replacing the complex junction to the south of Westbury Station. This enables trains to move from one line to another on their way to or from the station platforms. In the weeks before this main block of work takes place, we’ll be completing preparatory work. This includes bringing in the components and setting them down so they can be easily accessed when we’re ready to install them.

During the main four-week period we’re also upgrading signals and adjusting coping stones along the edge of the station platforms. Great Western Railway will be making the most of the opportunity while the station is closed to complete work within the station itself.

Further south on the line between Westbury and Salisbury via Warminster, we’re also working to strengthen Sherrington Viaduct. This work involves adding steel plates to the existing girders, masonry refurbishments to the abutments and piers and repainting the viaduct.

During the follow up weekends in February and March 2025 we’ll be tamping the new track installed for Westbury South junction. This will be to compact the stone around it to improve stability and ensure a longer life span. We’ll also be carrying out some work on the smaller junction to the north of the station at this time, as well as replacing smaller sections of ‘plain line’ track around the station and at Hawkeridge. Follow up shifts on Saturday nights will continue until early June 2025.

All of this work is vital to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the railway. It’ll help to improve performance in the area and the overall passenger experience.

When is the work taking place?

Preparation work

Saturday night shifts until 22 December 2024 as well as two extended weekend shifts:

• 0040 Sunday 10 November – 0450 Monday 11 November
• 0040 Sunday 15 December – 0400 Mon 16 December

Core upgrade (four weeks 24-hour working):

• 2345 Tuesday 24 December 2024 – 0400 Friday 24 January 2025

Follow up work

Saturday night shifts until 1 June 2025, as well as two extended weekend shifts:

• 0135 Saturday 1 February – 0400 Monday 3 February
• 0130 Saturday 8 March – 0400 Monday 10 March

How will this work affect me?

Work to replace track is often unavoidably noisy by nature. While we work hard to keep unnecessary noise and other disruption to a minimum, some disruption to residents from a project of this scale and duration is unfortunately inevitable.

Train journeys will be heavily affected throughout, following the standard Christmas shut down on Christmas Day and Boxing Day, with rail replacement services in operation from 27 December 2024 until 23 January 2025.

Travel arrangements

While we work to replace track, improve signals and strengthen a viaduct for the continued safe and reliable running of the railway, train services will be disrupted.

From Friday 27 December 2024 to Thursday 23 January 2025, buses replace trains between Westbury, Frome and Yeovil Junction and Yeovil Pen Mill, Salisbury, Trowbridge and Chippenham.

Check before you travel

London Paddington closure

Between Friday 27 and Sunday 29 December 2024, the railway line between Ealing Broadway and London Paddington will be closed for work in connection with the construction of Old Oak Common station. For more information visit GWR.com/OOC

Why is the work needed?

This essential engineering work is needed to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the railway, to improve performance and the overall passenger experience.

Get in touch

If you have any questions please call our dedicated 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or visit our contact us page.