Rail improvements to impact journeys between Maidenhead and Marlow
Network Rail plans to renew track in the Cookham area of the Maidenhead to Marlow branch line which will see the railway close for a nine-day period from this weekend.
This essential work will ensure the continued use the Marlow branch line and reduce the likelihood of short-notice disruption.
From Saturday 22 to Sunday 30 October 2020, buses will replace trains between Maidenhead and Marlow. Buses will run to different times to the normal train timetable, with journey times increased by up to 10 minutes. Trains will continue to run as normal between Reading and London Paddington.
During this work, heavy engineering trains will be used to relay the track and bring in equipment. At times, these trains will be positioned on the level crossing at Cookham, which means that the road will need to be closed each night between 8pm and 8am to ensure the safety of the public and the teams working on the line. A diversionary route will be in effect during the road closures.
GWR Station Manager for Slough and Maidenhead, Alison Hanscomb, thanked passengers in advance for their patience and reminded them of the changes ahead which these improvement works are helping to bring. She said:
‘’This essential work will see the track in the Cookham area completely renewed, allowing our customers to continue to use services which are vital to the local community.
“Please do however, check before you travel and allow plenty of time for your journey.”
Network Rail project manager, Bradley Wallace said:
“Our teams will be working to replace sections of the track in the Cookham area, including the steel rails and sleepers. This vital upgrade is needed to ensure the continued safe and reliable running of the railway for passengers travelling on the Maidenhead to Marlow branch line.
“We know that there is never a good time to close a road and have worked closely with the local council to ensure that the road is open throughout the day.
“We apologise to passengers, railway neighbours and the local community for any inconvenience caused by this work and thank them for their patience while we carry out this essential upgrade.”
Notes to editors
Great Western Railway (GWR) provides high speed, commuter, regional and branch line train services. We help over 100 million passengers reach their destinations every year - across South Wales, the West Country, the Cotswolds, and large parts of Southern England.
We’re currently seeing the biggest investment in the network since Brunel so we can offer more trains, more seats, and shorter, more frequent journeys and continue the network’s heritage of helping connect more businesses to new and prosperous markets. Through a series of initiatives we aim to be a good neighbour to the communities we serve and are committed to making a positive social impact in those regions. Learn how we're Building a Greater West at GWR.com. GWR is a FirstGroup company.