This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7206696.stm

The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 5 Version 6
Landslip closes part of rail line Landslip rail delays continuing
(about 15 hours later)
A 2,000-tonne landslip has disrupted First Great Western services between London Paddington and south Wales. Travel disruptions continue for First Great Western passengers travelling between London Paddington and south Wales after a 2,000-tonne landslip.
The slippage was reported at about 1100 GMT near the Chipping Sodbury tunnel, and has closed a main line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway stations. The slippage was reported on Thursday near the Chipping Sodbury tunnel, and had closed a main line between Swindon and Bristol Parkway stations.
The landslip has damaged signal boxes, but not the line itself. The train operator said it hoped to run a full morning peak service between south Wales and London on Friday.
Some trains between Bristol and Swindon could be cancelled for several days, although there is another line between south Wales and London in service. But journeys will be up to 30 minutes longer due to temporary signalling.
Passengers are being warned of short-notice alterations, cancellations and delays of up to 30 minutes. Off peak, only an hourly service will run in both directions between London Paddington and Swansea, with extended journey times of 30 minutes.
A number of services between London Paddington and Cardiff Central have already been cancelled.
'Completely rebuilt''Completely rebuilt'
First Great Western spokesman Richard Smith, said the line needed to be "completely rebuilt", including stabilisation work, new foundations, and new track and signalling.First Great Western spokesman Richard Smith, said the line needed to be "completely rebuilt", including stabilisation work, new foundations, and new track and signalling.
"Until we can get engineers to the site to see the damage, we won't know what caused it, but it has covered several boxes that control points," he said."Until we can get engineers to the site to see the damage, we won't know what caused it, but it has covered several boxes that control points," he said.
He added there would be an hourly service from London Paddington to Swansea at 45 minutes past each hour running over an alternative route and not calling at Bristol Parkway but at Patchway instead, with road transport linking the two stations.
The London Paddington to Cardiff Central service operating at 15 minutes past each hour from London will not run although there will be an hourly train service from Swansea to London Paddington at 29 minutes past each hour.
These trains will run over an alternative route after Newport, adding up to 40 minutes to journey times.
A Network Rail spokeswoman added: "We've got engineers down there inspecting the site and looking to restore services as soon as we can."A Network Rail spokeswoman added: "We've got engineers down there inspecting the site and looking to restore services as soon as we can."
She attributed the main problem to the bad floods the region had experienced recently.She attributed the main problem to the bad floods the region had experienced recently.
"Poor conditions meant the bank was saturated and affected the area's signalling boxes. "Poor conditions meant the bank was saturated and affected the area's signalling boxes."
"Some 40 miles of track, between Bristol and Swindon is affected by the problem. She added that 40 miles of track between Bristol and Swindon were affected by the problem.
"We're trying to clear the 2,000 tonnes by tomorrow (Friday) so some level of service can be restored. We have 40 engineers on site."