ENGINEERING work over the bank holiday weekend which saw trains unable to pass west of Swindon while bridge replacement works were carried out have been completed on time Network Rail.

On Tuesday Network Rail and Great Western Railway thanked passengers and lineside neighbours for their patience following the completion of the work, which saw Rodbourne Road in Swindon also closed to pedestrians for the first time.

A number of projects took place along the line over the bank holiday weekend to take advantage of lower passenger numbers, with the weekend’s programme of work totalling £14.5million across the line.

The works form part of the on-going electrification project which will allow the new, electric trains to run on the Great Western Main Line. Currently, a number of bridges along the line remain too low for the overhead wires needed to power the trains.

As part of this, engineers installed a new bridge at Broad Town Road in Royal Wootton Bassett as well as elsewhere installing the foundations for the overhead electrification equipment that is essential to power the new electric trains.

This process is known as ‘piling’ and took place at various locations in the south west and Thames Valley.

In Swindon the project to replace one of rail bridges over Rodbourne Road was completed, while another redundant bridge was removed. Network Rail said the bridges were nearing the end of their life and needed to be replaced.

Rodbourne Road is expected to remain closed to drivers though until around 10pm on Sunday, May 15, while Network Rail finish off the project.

Mark Langman, Network Rail’s managing director for the Western route, said: “I’d like to thank the public for their patience while we completed the latest phase of our extensive railway upgrade programme, which I’m pleased to say was completed on time.

“This means the public are a step closer to the benefits that electrification will bring.

"These include faster trains with more seats and more legroom, less noise and cleaner air for those who live close to the railway and better connections from the west and Thames Valley into central London.”

Mark Hopwood, GWR’s managing director, said: “Some of our passengers have faced longer journeys or bus replacement services, and will do so again on different parts of our network during the next bank holiday weekend - thank you for your continuing patience as this vital work takes place.”