Engineering works to affect trains in the North Cotswolds
Great Western Railway services will be affected by rail improvement works taking place this spring between Oxfordshire and Worcestershire.
Network Rail are replacing track on the North Cotswolds route during March and April, ensuring trains can continue to run reliably.
This means that services will be affected between Charlbury and Worcester Shrub Hill on Sunday 24 March, then between Charlbury and Evesham from Monday 25 to Wednesday 27 March:
- Trains will still run between London Paddington and Charlbury via Oxford
- A limited service will run between London Paddington and Hereford via Swindon
- Trains will run between Worcester Shrub Hill and Great Malvern/Hereford (Sun 24 Mar), then between Evesham and Great Malvern/Hereford (Mon 25 to Wed 27 Mar)
- Replacement buses are planned between Charlbury and Worcester Shrub Hill (Sun 24 Mar), then between Charlbury and Evesham (Mon 25 to Wed 27 Mar)
Billy White, GWR Station Manager for Oxford, Didcot and North Cotswolds, said:
“This improvement work forms part of an ongoing programme of maintenance, investing in the railway, and helping to ensure that we can continue to provide consistent and reliable services.
“Replacement buses will be provided between Charlbury and Worcester Shrub Hill on the Sunday, then between Charlbury and Evesham from Monday to Wednesday.
“Ticket acceptance has also been agreed to enable customers to travel on other train services between London and Worcester, Great Malvern or Hereford instead.
“These alternative routes via Birmingham or Bristol Parkway will make journey times much longer, so please check before you travel.”
Mark Parker, Lead Portfolio Manager for Network Rail, said:
“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this essential track replacement in the North Cotswolds.
“Once complete, this vital work will enable continued safe and reliable services to run on this popular route for years to come.”
Further track renewals are planned between Evesham and Worcester Foregate Street from Monday 22 to Friday 26 April.
For the latest information, visit GWR.com/Upgrade.
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Notes to editors
Notes to editors
First Greater Western Limited, trading as “Great Western Railway” (GWR), operates trains across the Great Western franchise area, which includes South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, across southern England and into London. GWR provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services, and before the covid-19 pandemic helped over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year. GWR has been awarded a National Rail Contract to continue operating the Great Western network, which shall run up to 21 June 2025, with the potential for a further three years at the Secretary of State’s discretion. Find out more here: https://www.gwr.com/about-us