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Gas leak in Didcot shuts the Reading to Swindon rail line as Network Rail warns passengers not to travel

From the Newshound archive · first published 23 September 2026 · last updated 24 September 2026.

Engineers are working to repair a gas leak in Didcot's Ladygrove area after a third party damaged the network, forcing closure of the Reading to Swindon rail line.
Engineers are working to repair a gas leak in Didcot's Ladygrove area after a third party damaged the network, forcing closure of the Reading to Swindon rail line.

A gas leak in Didcot's Ladygrove area has forced the closure of the railway line between Didcot Parkway and Reading, with severe disruption expected across long-distance services through to Swindon. Gas distribution firm SGN confirmed a third party damaged the network, and engineers are working to repair it. Passengers unable to travel can use their tickets on alternative rail providers and buses.

SGN has imposed an exclusion zone around the Ladygrove incident site for safety reasons.

Any trains still running on the affected corridor are expected to be extremely busy.

Network Rail is advising passengers to stay off the Reading to Swindon route until the leak has been repaired.

MoreBBC News - EnglandGas leak shuts rail line between Reading and Didcotlondon999.co.uk‘Do Not Travel’ Warning as Didcot Gas Leak Causes Rail Chaos Between Swindon and London - london999.co.ukgbnews.comDidcot Parkway: Passengers told not to travel after gas leak at train station triggers commuter chaos - gbnews.comExpress and StarGas leak shuts rail route between two major UK stations - Express and Star
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