Thursday 2 Sep 2021
Railway improvements mean better journeys for Chiltern passengers
- Region & Route:
- North West & Central
- | North West & Central: Central
Chiltern main line rail passengers travelling between London and Birmingham will soon benefit from smoother more reliable journeys.
Network Rail is carrying out major track upgrades at four locations between London Marylebone and Banbury on Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 September.
While this essential work takes place, some sections of the Chiltern main line will need to close.
Passengers are advised that journeys will take longer and to check www.nationalrail.co.uk in advance so they know exactly what to expect during the essential work.
To keep passengers on the move rail replacement buses will be in operation throughout the railway improvements*.
Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route interim director, said: “These major track improvements to the Chiltern main line will mean better, smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers and freight in future.
“However, replacing track like this means we have no choice but to close sections of railway for old sections to be ripped up and replaced with new. I’d urge anyone planning to travel over the weekend of 18 and 19 September to please check National Rail Enquiries to plan their journeys. I’d also like to thank passengers in advance for their patience.”
Trains will continue to operate between:
- London Marylebone and Aylesbury Vale Parkway (via Amersham)
- Between High Wycombe and Aylesbury (via Princes Risborough)
- Between Bicester Village and Oxford/Leamington Spa/Birmingham Moor Street/Birmingham Snow Hill.
Eleni Jordan, Chiltern Railways commercial and customer strategy director, 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. Customers travelling during these dates should check their journey via the Chiltern website or app before starting their journey.”
Passengers travelling over the weekend journeys are advised to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before making their journey.
Notes to Editors
* Replacement buses will be in operation between:
- Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Leamington Spa (calling at Bicester North, Kings Sutton and Banbury)
- Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Bicester Village (calling at Haddenham & Thame Parkway)
- Princes Risborough and Hillingdon (to connect with the Metropolitan line)
- High Wycombe and Amersham (to connect with the Metropolitan line)
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
07740 782954
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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