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Railtrack will be spending £6m this year on improving the track inside the tunnel, renewing two miles of ballast and sleepers.
The tunnel will be closed at weekends from BST2330 each Saturday until BST0400 on hte following Monday.
The closures began on 1 April and will last until 21 May.
There is never a good time to close an important railway artery such as the Severn Tunnel  |
Railtrack's Peter Muir
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Others will be replaced by a bus service operating between Newport, Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads stations.
Railtrack project manager Peter Muir said: "There is never a good time to close an important railway artery such as the Severn Tunnel.
"Following lengthy discussions with the train operating companies and the rail Users' Consultative Committees, it was agreed that weekend closures would cause the least disruption."
Enquiries line
It is hoped the project will be complete by June 2002 and that trains will be able to travel through the tunnel at 100mph, instead of the present limit of 75mph.
Built by Charles Richardson between 1873 and 1886, the Severn tunnel is the mainline link between south Wales and London Paddington.
It is regarded as one of the major engineering feats of the 19th century.
Passengers planning to travel during the weekends are being advised to contact the National Rail Enquiries line on 08457 48 49 500
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