Media centre

Wednesday 9 Mar 2016

Flooding affecting railway services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

A number of floods on railway lines in the Rugby, Daventry and Wolverton areas are affecting train services between London Euston and Birmingham New Street.

Network Rail’s orange army has been pumping water from two tunnels and a number of other sites to try and return services to normal as quickly as possible. Speed restrictions have been put in place to keep trains safely running through the affected areas but this has led to longer journeys and some cancellations.

Affected areas include a tunnel near Crick, between Rugby and Long Buckby, a tunnel near Kilsby, south of Rugby; the Wolverton area, near Milton Keynes; and Patford Bridge, near Whilton.

A Network Rail spokesman said: “Heavy rain and running water from nearby land has led to several different areas of flooding on railway lines in the Rugby, Northampton and Wolverton areas. Our staff are on site and closely monitoring the water levels in all these areas while doing everything possible to reduce the impact on trains as much as possible.

“Safety is the number one priority which is why temporary speed restrictions have been put in place which allow trains to keep moving through the affected areas.

“We are working closely with Virgin Trains and London Midland to minimise the impact as much as possible and return services to a normal timetable as quickly as possible.”

For the latest information passengers should visit www.nationalrail.co.uk