Lots of activity coming up in Sydney Gardens from next week as Network Rail moves in to start the restoration of Brunel’s last footbridge over the Great Western Railway, which was designed by him.
Rail passengers travelling through Bath are also being asked to plan their journeys in advance as Network Rail begins major restoration work on two of the region’s most important railway heritage structures: the Grade II listed Sydney Gardens footbridge and the eastern entrance to the iconic Box Tunnel.
The Sydney Gardens footbridge is the last surviving cast‑iron footbridge of its kind on the Great Western Mainline. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and set within one of Britain’s oldest Georgian pleasure gardens, the bridge is a rare and revered piece of Victorian engineering history.
Over the next two months, the bridge will undergo grit‑blasting, steel and masonry repairs, a full repaint, and the complete replacement of its wooden deck. To protect the surrounding parkland, the bridge will be fully wrapped while work takes place.
Further along the line, east of Bath near Corsham, engineers will also repair and survey the Grade II listed eastern portal of Box Tunnel, another important piece of Brunel’s legacy and one of Britain’s most significant early railway tunnels.
Scaffolding for both projects will be installed during planned railway closures between Bath Spa and Chippenham on two consecutive weekends in April and May. These closures also support other essential maintenance, including track renewal at Bathford and drainage improvements in Corsham.
A work area will be set up in the existing Bath & North East Somerset Council compound in Sydney Gardens from Monday, 13 April.
For safety, the area beneath the footbridge, including the footpath, will be closed. Clear pedestrian diversions will be in place, and the second footbridge in the park will remain open throughout.
Travel information
- Buses will replace trains between Bath Spa and Chippenham or Westbury on 25–26 April and 2–4 May.
- Rail tickets will be accepted on First Bus services between Bath and Trowbridge or Frome.
- Trains between London Paddington and Bath Spa will run via an alternative route between Swindon and Bristol Temple Meads and will not stop at Chippenham.
- Some services will still run between London Paddington and Chippenham (except Sundays).
- GWR will continue to run trains between Cardiff Central and Bath Spa, and between Westbury and Portsmouth Harbour, Frome or Weymouth.
- Additional improvement work means buses will also replace trains between Swindon and Westbury until around midday on 26 April.
- Rail replacement buses will stop in Freshford village and Westwood village, not at the stations.
Dan Parkes, Principal Portfolio Manager for Network Rail, said:
“Sydney Gardens footbridge and the Box Tunnel entrance are not just railway structures, they are irreplaceable pieces of Brunel’s legacy. Restoring them is both a responsibility and a privilege.
“By coordinating this work with other planned maintenance, we’re minimising disruption to passengers whilst protecting two of the most historic landmarks on our railway.
“If you’re planning to travel during this time, please make sure to check before you travel, as bus replacement services will be in place on some routes and journeys may take longer than usual.”
Oana Apetroaie, GWR Station Manager for Bath Spa and Chippenham, said:
“We apologise for the inconvenience this may cause, but the work planned will help us to maintain our train services in the area for years to come.
“Rail replacement services are planned for those stations affected, and ticket acceptance is in place on some local bus services in the area as an alternative.
“It’s important that customers are aware these alternative travel arrangements could make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead.”
A spokesperson for Friends of Sydney Gardens, a group formed in 2013 to preserve and improve Sydney Gardens, said:
“The Friends have been in discussion with Network Rail for several years about the state of the bridge, and we are so pleased new funding has now been found to carry out the necessary work. The Friends very much welcome the refurbishment of this important feature of Sydney Gardens.”
“The Friends of Sydney Gardens are delighted that the Grade II listed footbridge designed by Brunel is being restored. The cast-iron pedestrian bridge built in 1841 is a rare survivor of Brunel’s legacy.
“Brunel’s railway cuts through the centre of Sydney Gardens, a sole surviving Grade II listed pleasure garden in the UK, which deserves to be protected and preserved for future generations.
“We understand the Brunel Grade II listed retaining wall above the rail line will also be cleared of plant and tree growth during this Network Rail bridge restoration project. This work will improve line safety and protect the wall from further deterioration and damage.
