Passengers urged to check before travelling between Aylesbury and London Marylebone as record rainfall results in emergency repairs
Journeys between Aylesbury and London Marylebone will be disrupted on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 September to allow for emergency repairs to be made after damage caused by recent heavy rain.
Network Rail engineers will examine on foot 13 miles of track between Aylesbury and Amersham to identify and remedy emergency cable repairs which is affecting signalling between the two stations, caused by water damage after this week’s record rainfall.
The line will be closed between 9.35am and 3.35pm on Thursday 26 and Friday 27 September to give engineers the safe access to the tracks which is needed to carry out the assessment and repairs.
The decision to carry out repairs during the day rather than overnight was agreed between Network Rail and Chiltern Railways as it causes the least disruption to passengers overall. It means trains can still access Chiltern Railways’ Aylesbury depot throughout the night for essential checks and maintenance and that the start of service on both days will be unaffected.
Adam Checkley, infrastructure director for Network Rail, said:
“I’m grateful for affected passengers’ patience while we carry out these essential emergency repairs to electrical signalling cables which have been damaged by flood water.
“We have worked closely with Chiltern Railways to minimise disruption as much as possible by avoiding the key commuting and school travel times. I know some passengers will be disrupted and I am sorry for the inconvenience caused.”
Tony Baxter, operations director at Chiltern Railways, said:
“I'd like to thank customers for their patience as Network Rail carry out crucial emergency repairs near Aylesbury this Thursday and Friday. The works are vital to ensure continued safe and reliable journeys for customers travelling in the area following the severe weather we have experienced this week.
“I understand that a closure of this length at short notice will be inconvenient for our customers. My advice is to please check your journeys before you travel as journey planners have now been updated.”
Rail replacement buses will be in use between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Amersham, and between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. On both days, the 0916 Aylesbury Vale Parkway to London Marylebone will run five minutes earlier than advertised between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Amersham.
Over a month’s worth of rain was seen on Tuesday 24 September and two months’ worth across Sunday 22 and Monday 23 September. South Newington, three miles south of Banbury, saw the highest ever rainfall in Oxfordshire on Tuesday with 108mm recorded - beating the previous record of 87.9mm which was set in 1968.
With further heavy rain forecast this week, passengers are strongly advised to check before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk.
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Notes to editors
- Chiltern Railways is part of the Arriva group, one of the leading providers of passenger transport in Europe, employing around 38,000 people and delivering around 1.5 billion passenger journeys across 10 European countries.
- Chiltern operates commuter/regional rail passenger services from its Central London terminus at London Marylebone along the M40 corridor to destinations in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Warwickshire, as well as long-distance services to the West Midlands along two routes. Services on the Chiltern Main Line run from London Marylebone to Birmingham Snow Hill, Stratford-upon-Avon and Oxford, with some peak-hour services to Stourbridge Junction.
- Chiltern also runs trains on the London to Aylesbury Line to Aylesbury (with some trains terminating at Aylesbury Vale Parkway instead), on the Princes Risborough to Aylesbury and Oxford to Bicester branch lines.