Fire on railway line sparks travel chaos to Oxfordshire

Trains from Bristol and Swindon to Didcot Parkway were disrupted on Saturday, August 1 after a fire broke out near the line.

GWR and CrossCountry warned holidaymakers in Wales not to travel with routes from Bristol, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Newport also affected.

The disruption continued into Sunday, and most trains have still been delayed or cancelled on Monday, August 3, following the fire.

The line between Bristol Parkway and Cardiff Central was blocked on Saturday due to fire service activity.

READ MORE: Instagram famous farmer credits Clarkson's Farm for his success

The fire was located between Newport and Cardiff and damaged overhead electric power and signalling.

GWR said in a statement: "Due to a Large fire near the railway, there are currently no trains operating from Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway to South Wales.

"Tickets for today will be valid tomorrow on journeys to or from South Wales. However, due to damage, disruption is expected to continue into tomorrow."

At the time of the fire tickets were being accepted on local bus routes, and passengers were asked not to travel.

Great Western Railway will refund customers 25 per cent of their single tickets for up to a half an hour delay, and 100 per cent of a ticket for over an hour delay, if a journey if two hours delayed the company will refund customers 200 per cent of their ticket.

Customers can get a full refund if they choose not to travel, however if they travel on a connecting train they cannot expect a refund.