A gas leak in the vicinity of Didcot Parkway Railway Station has resulted in significant rail disruptions.
The incident occurred in Oxfordshire on Wednesday, September 23, leading to widespread train cancellations and delays across several key routes.
Services connecting Oxford with London Paddington were among those affected, alongside routes between Reading and Swindon.
Passengers travelling on these lines experienced considerable disruption throughout the day.
Following intervention by SGN engineers, who successfully addressed the gas leak, Network Rail confirmed that operations have returned to normal.
Marcus Jones, route director for Network Rail’s Great Western route, indicated that the safety exclusion zone that had been established around the affected area has now been removed.
He acknowledged the inconvenience caused to passengers and thanked them for their understanding during the period when safety measures remained in force.
Nick Westcott, CrossCountry’s service delivery director, stated that the company recognised the difficulties experienced by customers whose journeys were altered or delayed.
He confirmed that coordinated efforts between Network Rail and industry partners had enabled the railway to reopen safely, allowing CrossCountry services on the Reading to Oxford corridor to resume normal operation.
Mark Hopwood, managing director of GWR, advised that while services had been restored, there remained a possibility of minor alterations to some schedules throughout Thursday, September 24.
He recommended that passengers verify their journey details before travelling.
Station and onboard staff would continue to provide assistance to customers, with further updates to be communicated should circumstances change.
Travellers who possessed tickets for journeys passing through Didcot on Wednesday 23 have been granted flexibility to use those tickets on the following day, Thursday September 24, or alternatively seek a refund.