With Easter now less than a week away, passengers intending to travel using Chiltern Trains are being encouraged to check their services before they travel or make other travel arrangements, as HS2 works are taking place just south of Aylesbury this weekend from Friday 29 March and Monday 1 April.

The work to be undertaken is on part of the new Small Dean Viaduct.

At 345 metres long, it is one of 50 new viaducts being built as part of the HS2 project. Both HS2 and Network Rail engineers will be drilling the foundations to the fourth pier of the viaduct, which is to sit next to the Aylesbury line.

They will also be installing the first of five ‘Y’ shaped piers that will eventually carry the trains over this section of the viaduct.

The work is due to last four days, using the Easter Bank holiday weekend to carry out this work, which will see the Chiltern line closed between Great Missenden and Aylesbury.

Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April:

• There will be no Chiltern services from London Marylebone to Aylesbury Vale Parkway via Amersham.
• Buses will run between Beaconsfield, Amersham, Great Missenden, Wendover, Stoke Mandeville, Aylesbury and Aylesbury Vale Parkway. Passengers will still be able to make their journeys from these stations and catch a train to and from London Marylebone at Beaconsfield.

“The Small Dean viaduct is a major part of the HS2 route. It’s one of the only two places in the Chilterns where the new railway will be above the existing railway, and over the Easter Weekend HS2 teams will make an important step in its construction. We know there’s never a good time to close the railway, but working over the Easter weekend means we can keep the railway open as much as possible during the week. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience and remind them to check before they travel during the long weekend.”

Patrick Cawley, Director for Network Rail and HS2’s On Network Works team.

We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while our route between Marylebone and Aylesbury Vale Parkway is closed during these HS2 works. Rail replacement buses will be in operation for the Easter weekend, so customers should check ahead before they travel on the Chiltern Railways website or app.”

Andy Camp, Commercial & Customer Strategy Director.

Additional information about the replacement bus service can be found at www.chilternrailways.co.uk/tickets-and-times/changes