Chiltern passengers advised of weekend railway upgrades: Chiltern trains at Marylebone station stockshot - Credit Chiltern Railways

Wednesday 10 Mar 2021

Chiltern passengers advised of weekend railway upgrades

Region & Route:
North West & Central
| North West & Central: Central

Passengers making essential journeys between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street are being advised of upcoming railway improvements.

Work is taking place this weekend (Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March) to:

  • Improve the platform canopies and roofs at Gerrards Cross station;
  • Examine a railway bridge which crosses the M25;
  • Prepare the ground for work on high speed lines;
  • Completely replace railway track between Hatton and Dorridge.

The major improvements mean two stretches of the Chiltern main line need to be closed – Warwick Parkway to Solihull and Wembley Stadium to High Wycombe.

Dave Penney, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “While passenger numbers are still low, we’re making sure the Chiltern main line is in the best possible shape ready to welcome passengers back when lockdown measures are eased.

“This is part of our commitment to emerge stronger together from the pandemic. However, as some of the Chiltern main line will need to close for this important work, I’d urge anyone still making essential journeys to check National Rail Enquiries so they know what to expect when they travel.”

Rail replacement buses will be running to keep people making essential journeys on the move.

Passengers are urged to check www.nationalrail.co.uk or with Chiltern Railways before they travel.

Eleni Jordan, commercial and customer strategy director at Chiltern Railways, said: “The important track replacement work being carried out by Network Rail will ensure that we can continue to provide a safe, reliable and punctual service for our customers when restrictions on travel are eased. Customers who need to travel during these dates should check their journey via the Chiltern website or app before starting their journey.”

For more information on the alternative travel arrangements click here to view a diagram from Chiltern Railways.

Passengers making essential journeys are being advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk while lockdown travel restrictions remain in place.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office - North West & Central Region
0330 854 0100
NWCmediarelations@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

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