All direct Hereford to London trains cancelled until June

Great Western Railway (GWR) announced last week that there will be no direct trains from Hereford, Ledbury and Colwall to London Paddington.

However, this has now been extended until June with trains only going so far as Oxford, where they will terminate,

The disruption is the result of urgent repair works and a detailed safety inspection of Nuneham Viaduct, between Didcot Parkway and Oxford.

OTHER NEWS:

• Hereford tuckshop showcasing the best of local producers is open for business
• Hereford man drove on A49 after eating chocolate brownie laced with cannabis
• Fire crews called to rescue woman and dog from river near Hereford

Network Rail has confirmed a temporary structure to stabilise the bridge is being installed and the line is expected to reopen by June 10, 2023.

GWR has confirmed there is a limited rail replacement bus service in place, but this is likely to be “very busy” and customers should expect “significant delays” to their journeys.

The replacement bus services are operating between Didcot and Oxford, in both directions, offering a non-stop journey between the two stations.

Some of these services will call at Appleford, Culham and Radley for customers travelling to or from those stations.

OTHER NEWS:

• Hereford man drove on A49 after eating chocolate brownie laced with cannabis
• Hereford chippy closure is 'soul-destroying' after lorry crashes into wall
• Hereford bus company axes more services and makes changes to routes

Trains continue to operate largely as planned between Hereford, Worcestershire and Oxford; however, they may be re-timed and customers should check before travelling, especially for journeys involving very early morning or late evening services, GWR has warned.

Alternative routes include those via Newport, South Wales, and Birmingham.

GWR has also stated it is reviewing compensation arrangements for season ticket holders and will be in touch with them directly.

Customers who have already bought tickets and decide not to travel will be able to claim a full refund or amend their ticket while anyone whose journey is delayed by at least 15 minutes may be entitled to Delay Repay.

Other services accepting GWR tickets during the disruption:

• Transport for Wales between Hereford and Newport, where you can change for GWR services to London Paddington
• Oxford Bus Company route 35 between Oxford City Centre and Abingdon
• Stagecoach route S3 between Oxford and Charlbury
• Stagecoach route S6 between Swindon and Oxford (Osney Island bus stop which is a six-minute walk from Oxford station)
• Stagecoach route S7 between Oxford and Hanborough
• Thames Travel X2 and X32 bus services between Didcot and Oxford