Six day rail line closure for track upgrades

Work will begin on 18 August

A rail line is to shut for six days to allow tracks along the route to be upgraded or replaced.

Work will take place on the North Cotwolds line, between Worcester Shrub Hill and Moreton-in-Marsh, from 18 to 24 August to "maintain a safe and reliable railway," Network Rail said.

Passengers wanting to get to London can still get a service from Moreton-in-Marsh to Paddington. Some direct services will also run between Hereford and London Paddington, via Cheltenham Spa.

Billy White, GWR station manager, said other train services will be operating between Worcester Shrub Hill or Worcester Foregate Street stations and Hereford during this period.

"Please note that only CrossCountry trains will be able to stop at Worcestershire Parkway while this engineering work is taking place," he said.

"Customers should also be aware these alternative travel arrangements will make journey times much longer, so please plan ahead."

Track that's reached the end of its working life will be replaced at Honeybourne station and a new walkway will be built for train drivers. Rail will also be replaced near Evesham.

Maintenance work will also take place inside Chipping Campden tunnel, which opened in 1853.

Network Rail programme manager Jason Pankhurst apologised for the temporary closure but said it would benefit passengers "long into the future."

"Our work will ensure the continued safe and reliable running of trains through the Cotswolds," he said.