Rail services between Swindon and Gloucester will be back on track on Monday after a four-week closure caused by flood damage.

Passengers were forced to take a bus service after track subsidence in Sapperton tunnel.

First Great Western's managing director Mike Carroll said: "We are delighted to be able to resume this service.

"With the reopening of this route, it means First Great Western's services between London Paddington and South Wales, Bristol and the Cotswolds will now be near normal.

"We are aware that customers on this route who have had to use buses between Swindon and Kemble, have had to cope with severe frustration and inconvenience for four weeks and we are pleased that their difficulties should now be over."

The route between Swindon and Gloucester has been closed due to engineering work carried out by Railtrack following a collapse of the line at Sapperton Tunnel between Kemble and Stroud. It will re open at 6am on Monday.

Railtrack spokeswoman Jane Terry explained that the track problems were caused when flood water washed away earth used to fill an abandoned Victorian canal, which runs beneath the railway in Sapperton Tunnel.

As a result part of the track collapsed.

She added: "I am pleased to say that the repair work was carried out ahead of time. The repairs took up 5,000 man hours and the contractors worked 24-hours a day to get the job done.

"More than 1,000 tonnes of debris was cleared and 600 tonnes of cement were poured to fill the old canal."

Railtrack Project manager Andy Lundberry said: "I would like to apologise to all our customers about the closure of the track. The contractors aimed to carry out the work in as short a time as possible in a confined working environment. This work was necessary and will mean less disruption for rail users in the long term."

n A new franchise to meet the growing demand for rail services in South West England has been launched. The new Wessex franchise, announced by the Shadow Strategic Rail Authority will run services on the Swindon to Gloucester line as well as routes from Swindon to Southampton.

Companies looking to run the new franchise will have until December 15 to register their interest.