Network Rail is reminding passengers that major upgrade work will disrupt journeys between Aylesbury, Princes Risborough and Amersham from next month.

In the first stage of the work, Network Rail engineers will make permanent repairs to a Victorian drainage culvert which passes beneath the railway in Aylesbury.

Passenger services have suffered from repeated short-notice line closures caused by structural faults in the culvert which have so far been addressed only by temporary repairs.

It will take twelve days to complete the permanent repair, so the railway line will close between Monday 7 and Friday 18 August.

This will impact trains between Aylesbury Vale Parkway and Amersham and Aylesbury and Princes Risborough.

Buses will replace the suspended train service as follows:

• Amersham – Great Missenden – Wendover – Stoke Mandeville – Aylesbury – Aylesbury Vale Parkway (for connections to London Underground)
• Princes Risborough – Monks Risborough – Little Kimble – Aylesbury

Immediately following this closure, work will start to allow the new high-speed railway, HS2, to pass under the existing railway.

This work will start on 19 August and is expected to last until 29 October. For this ten-week period, no trains will run between Aylesbury and Princes Risborough. Buses will replace trains as follows:

• Princes Risborough – Monks Risborough – Little Kimble – Aylesbury

The train operator is still finalising the details of the rail replacement bus services, so some information is not yet available from online journey planners. Network Rail is advising passengers to check again closer to their date of travel for more detailed information. about rail replacement bus services by using this web page.

In addition, Marsh Lane level crossing will be closed to road users from 10pm on Friday 18 August until spring next year, both to facilitate the railway improvement work and to improve the level crossing itself.

Network Rail is writing to local residents to make them aware of the planned work and invite them to information events.

More information is available here.

Patrick Cawley, director for ‘On Network Works’ for Network Rail and HS2, said: “Our major upgrades in Buckinghamshire will help to improve reliability for passengers who have been disrupted this year as well as preparing for HS2 which will transform journeys between London, the Midlands and the North, by making space on the existing railway network for more freight and local services.

“Before work begins in August, we are urging passengers to familiarise themselves with the alternative travel arrangements in place, and planning their journeys in advance by visiting the Chiltern Railways website.”

Jacqueline Dey, operations director for Chiltern Railways, said: “Local customers will know all too well that the damaged culvert has led to numerous short-notice cancellations this year, and we are pleased that a permanent fix will be implemented this summer. Customers should be aware that Network Rail and HS2 works will close the railway for a further ten weeks after these repairs. Rail replacement buses will be in operation during this time, and customers should check before they travel.

“We’d like to thank customers for their patience while these works take place, and we remain heavily committed to working with our industry partners to keep local residents informed before and throughout the closure.”