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Tuesday 24 May 2016

Worcestershire railway to get upgrade

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Western

| Wales & Western

Passengers travelling through Worcestershire between June and August are advised to check before they travel as Network Rail carries out essential work to upgrade the rail network in the area.

The work forms an important part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan, to provide a bigger, better, more reliable railway for passengers and will involve refurbishing part of the existing signalling system; replacing a number of tracks; and carrying out essential maintenance work. This will lead to greater reliability for passengers, paving the way for smoother journeys and fewer delays.

The nature of the work requires the temporary closure of some railway lines in the Worcestershire area. During this time, trains will be diverted and in some cases replacement bus services will operate.

Emily Luszcz, Network Rail’s project manager, said: “I’d like to thank passengers in advance for their patience and understanding while we complete essential work to upgrade the railway. This work forms an important part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, to provide greater reliability for passengers and improve their travelling experience.”

Brenda Lawrence, head of Snow Hill line services at London Midland, said: “We know there is never a good time to do improvement work across the network; however the works on the signalling system in the Worcester and Great Malvern areas this summer is essential and will allow our passengers to experience a reliable service in the area.

“We’ve worked closely with our industry partners and stakeholders to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum, and we strongly advise passengers to check their journeys before travelling.”

Rob Smith, Great Western Railway’s general manager, said: “The completion of the Great Western modernisation work will deliver the single greatest improvement to our network in over a generation; enabling us to increase capacity, the frequency of train services and reduce journey times.

“In order to achieve this however, there will be some alterations to services for our passengers.”

The upgrade work will take place between Saturday, 4 and Wednesday, 22 June and over a number of weekends in July and August.

During this time, passengers are advised to check before they travel through train operators London Midland and Great Western Railway. Alternatively National Rail Enquiries also has up-to-date travel information.

ENDS

Notes to editors

The additional weekends on which the upgrade work will continue are as follows: 

• Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 June 2016
• Saturday 2 and Sunday 3 July 2016
• Sunday 10 July 2016
• Sunday 17 July 2016
• Saturday 6 to Wednesday 10 August 2016

Details of the changes to services from 4 to 22 June are as follows:

London Midland services

• Saturday 4 to Monday 13 June - no London Midland train services will run to or from Worcester Shrub Hill.
• A revised timetable will be in operation, with trains diverted to Worcester Foregate Street station. Some early morning services will start from Droitwich Spa.

• A rail replacement bus service between Worcester Shrub Hill and Droitwich Spa will run during the morning peak to connect with train services to Birmingham.
• There are no car parking facilities at Worcester Foregate Street station. It is therefore recommended that if you normally catch your train at Worcester Shrub Hill that you continue to park there and catch the rail replacement bus service in operation.

Birmingham New Street to Hereford services

• A revised and reduced frequency timetable will run between Birmingham and Hereford.
• On Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June, trains will run to Ledbury only and not serve Hereford. A connecting rail replacement bus service will run between Ledbury and Hereford.

Great Western Railway (GWR) services

Saturday 4 June to Monday 13 June 2016

GWR services will run to an amended timetable.

Saturday 11 and Sunday 12 June 2016

There will be no trains between Ledbury and Hereford; with replacement buses running instead. services will terminate at Ledbury.

Saturday 18 to Wednesday 22 June

• Replacement buses will run between Great Malvern and Hereford.
• Services between London Paddington and Hereford will terminate at Great Malvern; and trains from the South Coast and Bristol will run to an amended timetable.
• London Midland services between Birmingham and Hereford will terminate at Worcester Foregate Street; with connecting GWR trains to Great Malvern.