Second landslip caused rail delay

A 40mph speed limit was removed on Wednesday afternoon.

Train services between Bristol Parkway and Swindon have returned to normal after a second landslide within a week caused delays to travellers.

Paddington-bound trains faced a 40mph speed limit after a bank gave way near Alderton, Wiltshire.

A First Great Western spokesman said some trains were re-routed, and earlier on Wednesday passengers faced delays of up to 20 minutes.

An unrelated points fault also contributed to the delays, he added.

'Minor works'

Network Rail said it had checked the landslip and engineers had undertaken minor works to stabilise the slippage.

"A 40mph speed limit that was imposed on the Paddington-bound track was lifted this [Wednesday] afternoon," a spokeswoman said.

Last Thursday, FGW services between London and south Wales were disrupted when 2,000 tonnes of stone and soil fell on to the track near Chipping Sodbury - about 10 miles from Alderton.

Track, foundations and signalling equipment needed to be replaced after the incident and stabilisation work was necessary to the bank.