Train services are being cancelled as emergency services "deal with an incident" this morning (Friday, May 17). The incident is reportedly unfolding near the railway between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads.
All train lines are reportedly blocked with some services being cancelled or diverted. Some journey times are delayed by up to an hour. The incident is understood to have happened at Bedminster.
CrossCountry Trains said in a post on X at 11am: "Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads all lines are blocked. Services may be cancelled or diverted via Westbury, adding an hour to journey times."
This is a live blog. Scroll down for updates.
Customer advice
CrossCountry
To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted on Great Western Railway services via any reasonable route.
Great Western Railway
If you are travelling to Weston-super-Mare from Taunton, you should change at Worle for a service to Weston-super-Mare.
If you are travelling to Taunton from Weston-super-Mare, you should change at Bristol Temple Meads for services towards the West Country.
To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted on CrossCountry services via any reasonable route.
Additional Travel Information
This has affected the train service south of Weston-super-Mare. Customers travelling south of the station will need to amend their plans. The station is still open, but for northbound services (trains towards Bristol Temple Meads) only. Therefore customers travelling south will need to travel towards Bristol to change.
Train disruption expected until 5.30pm
#Bedminster - Disruption between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton expected until 17:30
— National Rail (@nationalrailenq) May 17, 2024
This is also affecting services via Weston-super-Mare
More information: https://t.co/hh1iKnhptP
Train delays remain
The latest update from Inrix saysL "Delays of up to 45 minutes and some cancellations on Great Western Railway and CrossCountry between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads due to emergency services dealing with an incident."
Person dies on tracks
British Transport Police said: "Officers were called to the line near Weston-Super Mare at around 10.52am today (17 May) following reports of a casualty on the tracks.
"Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Routes affected
CrossCountry services between Aberdeen / Edinburgh / Glasgow Central / Newcastle / York and Plymouth, and between Manchester Piccadilly and Paignton, also between Edinburgh and Penzance
Great Western Railway services between Cardiff Central and Penzance / Plymouth / Taunton, and between Avonmouth / London Paddington / Severn Beach and Weston-super-Mare
Delays and cancellations
Traffic monitoring site Inrix says: "Delays of up to 20 minutes and some cancellations on Great Western Railway and CrossCountry between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads due to earlier emergency services dealing with an incident."
National Rail latest
Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton all lines are currently closed. As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 30 minutes or diverted via Westbury.
Disruption is expected until 13:00.
Customer Advice:
CrossCountry
To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted on Great Western Railway services via any reasonable route.
Incident between Taunton and Bristol
DISRUPTION: Due to the emergency services dealing with an incident near the railway between Taunton and Bristol Temple Meads all lines are blocked.
— CrossCountry Trains (@CrossCountryUK) May 17, 2024
Services may be cancelled or diverted via Westbury, adding an hour to journey times.
Updates:- https://t.co/iYYCKNUuPo. pic.twitter.com/Hgr9AFr3Qc
