Historical Timeline
31 Dec 1835
Passing of the railway act
The Great Western Railway Act to build a railway line from London to Bristol was presented to parliament in 1834 and given Royal Ascent on the 31st of August 1835.
17 Dec 1840
Opening of the station
30 Jun 1841
Line opened all the way from London to Bristol
With a route of 116 miles (187 km) it was a major undertaking which started in 1836 and and was finally open throughout by the completion in June 1841 of Box Tunnel, which at 9,636 feet (2,937 meters) was the longest railwiay tunnel in the world at the time
10 May 1848
Major Fatal Railway Accident
Six dead and thirteen injured after collision of an express train with a horsebox. – click here for more information
Feb 1872
Line through station becomes dual gauge
A three-rail system to handle both Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s original 7 ft (2,134 mm) broad gauge and the standard 4 ft 8 1/2 in (1,435 mm) gauge, allowing smooth transitions before the use of broad gauge finally ended in 1892
1881
Line blocked by snow
Details to follow
1892
Conversion to standard gauge
Removal of the redundant rail now all trains were gauged at 4 ft 81/2 inches
1933
Tracks through station quadrupled
15 Jan 1948
Major Fatal Railway Accident
Express train from Penzance to Paddington struck some empty stationary goods wagons and derailed, Two dead and ten injured – click here for more information
7 Dec 1964
Station closed to passengers
Remained open for goods only
4 Oct 1965
Station closed completely
2016
New overbridge constructed
Level crossing closed permanently
Oct 2018