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Thursday 1 Aug 2024

Passengers thanked as Chiltern main line reopens after five-day closure

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: Central

Railway upgrades to improve journeys for passengers and freight between Bicester and Leamington Spa are now complete.

The stretch of the Chiltern main line reopened today (Thursday 1 August) after essential improvements to the important route between London Marylebone and the West Midlands.

Passengers have been thanked for their patience while Network Rail and its partners at Story Contracting worked round-the-clock to replace a bridge which carries the railway over the River Cherwell in King's Sutton near Banbury.

During the closure a new 240-tonne bridge deck was lifted into place using two special rail-mounted ‘Kirow’ cranes. The new structure will be safe and reliable for passengers and freight for years to come.

At the same time, over 500 metres of railway north of Banbury station was upgraded, including replacing sections of track and drainage to help deal with ever-changing weather patterns and to help make journeys smoother.

Adam Checkley, infrastructure director for Network Rail's Central route, said: “This bridge replacement and track and drainage upgrade on the Chiltern main line between Bicester and Leamington Spa means more reliable journeys for passengers and freight. Thank you to passengers for their patience while we completed this essential work."

Andy Camp, commercial and customer strategy director at Chiltern Railways, said: “I’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding during the five-day closure as Network Rail carried out crucial engineering works.

“Normal service has resumed and the engineering works will ensure more reliable journeys for customers travelling on the route in the future.”

Passengers can plan their journeys and check for the latest travel information at www.nationalrail.co.uk.