Broken rail may delay Cardiff to Cheltenham trains by up to an hour
A broken rail may delay trains by up to 60 minutes between Cardiff Central and Cheltenham Spa, Transport for Wales said at 14:02 on Wednesday. Services may also be cancelled in both directions. TfW expects the incident and the disruption to last until 17:00, but that is an estimate rather than a guaranteed clearance time.
TfW says trains are running at reduced speed through the affected area for safety. Network Rail technicians are travelling to the track. The notice does not identify the precise location of the break or list individual cancelled trains, so passengers should check the relevant service before leaving.
Alternative travel and refunds
Tickets are being accepted on CrossCountry services between Cardiff Central and Cheltenham Spa at no extra cost until further notice. TfW says passengers arriving more than 15 minutes late on one of its trains may claim Delay Repay. Passengers who decide not to travel because of this disruption can seek a fee-free refund for an unused ticket from the retailer that sold it.
Background and supporting figures
Where this sits
TfW says a broken rail is requiring trains to run at reduced speed through the affected area and that Network Rail technicians are travelling to the track.
Tickets are accepted on CrossCountry between Cardiff Central and Cheltenham Spa at no extra cost until further notice.
Transport for Wales says services between Cardiff Central and Cheltenham Spa may be delayed by up to 60 minutes and may be cancelled in both directions.
TfW expects the incident and disruption to last until 17:00 on 16 September 2026. This is an estimate, not a guaranteed clearance time.