All direct trains from Hereford to London have been cancelled for the next few weeks.

Great Western Railway said this week that there will be no direct trains from Hereford, Ledbury and Colwall to London Paddington until April 23.

Trains will only go as far as Oxford, where they will terminate.

This is due to "urgent" repairs to a bridge between Didcot Parkway and Oxford.

"We're sorry for the disruption to your journey today," said a GWR spokesperson.

OTHER NEWS:

"Following a safety inspection of a railway viaduct between Didcot Parkway and Oxford the railway has been closed to allow emergency repairs to take place."

GWR has said that there will be limited rail replacement transport between Didcot Parkway and Oxford.

The company has also arranged for tickets to be accepted by other operators, including via Newport.

Tom Painter, from West Midlands Rail Executive and Transport for West Midlands, said: "As you may have heard, GWR services between Herefordshire, Worcestershire and London Paddington are currently suspended after a bridge carrying the railway over the river Thames south of Oxford was found to be in need of urgent structural repairs.

"The repairs are expected to last at least two weeks."

Anyone with a ticket will be able to get on West Midlands Railway, CrossCountry and Avanti West Coast services between Worcester stations and London Euston via Birmingham New Street.

OTHER NEWS:

Tickets will also be accepted on the London Underground on the Circle line and the Hammersmith and City line, between Euston Square and Paddington.

Passengers can also use their tickets on the CrossCountry service from Worcestershire Parkway to Cheltenham Spa and Bristol Parkway.

You can then change at Cheltenham or Bristol for a GWR service to London Paddington.

Meanwhile, Chiltern Railways will be accepting GWR tickets on the Oxford to London Marylebone service.

The ticket can then be used on the Bakerloo line between Marylebone and Paddington.

Finally, tickets can also be used on the Transport for Wales service between Hereford and Newport, where passengers can then change for a GWR service to London Paddington.

GWR has also arranged for tickets to be accepted on several local bus routes in Oxfordshire.

These are as follows:

  • Thames Travel route X2 between Oxford (Station) and Didcot Parkway
  • Thames Travel route X32 between Oxford (City Centre) and Didcot Parkway
  • Stagecoach route S6 between Oxford (Frideswide Square) and Swindon (Bus Station)
  • Stagecoach route S3 between Oxford (Station), Combe (Stonesfield Road) and Charlbury (Sturt Close)
  • Stagecoach route S7 between Oxford (Station) and Hanborough (Main road near station)

According to the GWR website, this disruption is expected until the end of Sunday, April 23.