Work is to start on a £3.5 million railway upgrade project near Chippenham.

The project at Dauntsey forms part of Network Rail's Railway Upgrade Plan.

The track will be lowered under two listed bridges, paving the way for new Intercity Express Trains (IET) to run on the line later this year.

As well as track lowering, engineers will install a drainage culvert to help reduce the chance of the line flooding in the future.


As part of the scheme, the at Dauntsey will be closed for nine days between Friday, 08 July and Sunday, 16 July.

Samantha Patterson, who works on the electrification project for Network Rail said: "This investment at Dauntsey is key to modernising the railway through the area and providing passengers with a better, more reliable railway.

"There is never a good time to close the railway for any length of time but we have looked at all options and worked with GWR to complete this work at a time that will cause least disruption to passengers.

"Our Railway Upgrade Plan is delivering significant investment into the railway network which will provide a better, more reliable railway for passengers."

(LM/MH)