Rail upgrades between Birmingham and London Marylebone this weekend

Wednesday 5 Nov 2025

Rail upgrades between Birmingham and London Marylebone this weekend

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

Passengers travelling between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone this weekend are being advised of journey changes while engineering upgrades take place.

The essential work, which includes track and drainage improvements, will help provide better and more reliable journeys for passengers and freight services.

Across the weekend, Network Rail’s teams will be carry out track replacement near Sudbury Hill station, track maintenance at Oxford, and drainage improvement at Banbury.

It means the Chiltern main line will be closed between Wembley Stadium and Denham all day on Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 November, and between Bicester North and Leamington Spa on Sunday morning.

The work will affect Chiltern Railways' services and journeys will take longer than usual with rail replacement bus services in operation.

Neil Gaskin, programme director for Network Rail's Central route, said: “These essential railway upgrades and maintenance will help keep the Chiltern main line more reliable for years to come. This work has been carefully planned to keep disruption to a minimum while delivering the most future benefits for passengers and freight and I thank passengers for their patience.

“If you're planning to travel, plan ahead and check before you travel for the latest journey information and travel advice.”

Michael Stewart, commercial and customer strategy director at Chiltern Railways, said: "I would like to thank our customers for their patience and understanding as vital engineering work by Network Rail will affect journeys on our route between London and the West Midlands this weekend.

"Please check your journeys ahead of travelling as they may be disrupted or involve a rail replacement bus."

Passengers should check www.nationalrail.co.uk or with Chiltern Railways for the latest journey information and travel advice.

Notes to Editors

For further Information on passenger advice visit www.chilternrailways.co.uk/november

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

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