Network Rail to restore two Brunel landmarks in Bath

Bath heritage railway restoration is set to begin in the city. It will cover two historic railway structures. One is the Grade II listed Sydney Gardens footbridge. The other is the eastern entrance to Box Tunnel.

Bath heritage railway restoration at Brunel landmarks

According to Network Rail, the work will take place during planned closures. They will affect Bath Spa and Chippenham on two successive weekends in April and May. The programme also includes track renewal at Bathford and drainage improvements in Corsham.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel designed the Sydney Gardens footbridge. It is the last surviving cast-iron footbridge of its type on the Great Western Mainline. It sits within one of Britain’s oldest Georgian pleasure gardens.

Over the next two months, the structure will undergo grit blasting. It will also receive steelwork and masonry repairs. The work will include a full repaint and replacement of the timber deck. The bridge will be fully wrapped. This will protect the surrounding parkland while work is under way.

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Box Tunnel works and site access in Sydney Gardens

Further east, near Corsham, engineers will begin repair and survey work at Box Tunnel. The work will focus on its Grade II listed eastern entrance. It is another part of Brunel’s engineering heritage.

From Monday 13 April, a working area will be set up in Sydney Gardens. It will use the existing Bath & North East Somerset Council compound. The area beneath the footbridge, including the footpath, will be closed. Signed pedestrian diversion routes will be provided. The second footbridge in the park will remain open.

Dan Parkes, Principal Portfolio Manager for Network Rail, said:

Sydney Gardens footbridge and the Box Tunnel entrance are not just railway structures, they are irreplaceable pieces of Brunel’s legacy. Restoring them is both a responsibility and a privilege.

By coordinating this work with other planned maintenance, we’re minimising disruption to passengers whilst protecting two of the most historic landmarks on our railway.

If you’re planning to travel during this time, please make sure to check before you travel, as bus replacement services will be in place on some routes and journeys may take longer than usual.

Bath Spa and Chippenham closures for passengers

Network Rail has advised passengers to check journey details before travelling. During the closures:

• Buses will replace trains between Bath Spa and Chippenham or Westbury on 25–26 April and 2–4 May.
• Rail tickets will also be accepted on First Bus services between Bath and Trowbridge or Frome.
• Trains between London Paddington and Bath Spa will run via an alternative route between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads. They will not stop at Chippenham.
• Some services between London Paddington and Chippenham will still operate, except on Sundays.
• GWR will continue to run trains between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa.
• GWR will also continue to run trains between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour, Frome or Weymouth.
• Additional improvement work means buses will also replace trains between Swindon and Westbury. That will continue until around midday on 26 April.
• For Freshford and Westwood, rail replacement buses will stop in the villages rather than at the stations.

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