IMPROVEMENTS to Swindon’s rail service will leave some of the town’s bus users facing five months of disruption.

The work is taking place as part of Network Rail’s electrification programme for the Great Western line and will see the Swindon Road bridge temporarily closed to vehicles.

From Monday, November 17 Thamesdown Transport’s No 20 service between Swindon Bus Station and Great Western Hospital will be diverted.

On both sides of the road the route will be diverted between the Jacobs Ladder bus stop in Ermin Way and Greenbridge Retail Park via Ermin Street, Oxford Road and Slade Drive.

The bus will not be able to serve stops in Grange Drive. Passengers will have to board the service from Ermin Street or take an alternative bus to the town centre and get the No 20 there.

Passengers who live in Grange Drive are unhappy with the disruption they face.

Edward Collins, 68, who uses a walking stick, said: “I live quite a bit away from Ermin Street, so I’m not best impressed having to walk a lot further to get the bus. I think this might leave some elderly people a little isolated and they might think twice about making journeys because of the effort.”

Veronica Pearce, 71, said: “I think we understand the benefits that the work will bring but five months is a long time for this diversion to be in place and it is going to affect a lot of people.

“It is going to be especially difficult for those who use the bus to get to hospital appointments.”

The work will see the bridge rebuilt with the section of road expected to re-open to traffic in April next year.

Gordon Frost, Thamesdown Transport operations director, said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused to our passengers as a result of the diversion.”

A spokesman for Network Rail said: “We’re electrifying the Great Western Mainline as part of the route modernisation programme. From summer 2017 we will bring you a 21st century railway, with new, greater capacity trains running more often, more reliable journeys, quieter journeys for both rail users and line side neighbours and reduced emissions from electric trains.

“Please bear with us during thisperiod of disruption from November 17 to April 1, 2015.”

Visit www.thamesdownbus.com and www.networkrail.co.uk/great-western-route-modernisation.


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