Regular passengers that use Chiltern Railways are advised to check their upcoming travel plans as a five-day closure of the Chiltern Main Line between Bicester and Leamington Spa is scheduled to take place from Saturday 27 to Wednesday 31 July.

The work undertaken during the closure is part of an investment exceeding £9 million.

Network Rail and Story Contracting will be working continuously to replace a bridge that spans the river Cherwell in King’s Sutton, near Banbury.

The replacement involves installing a new 240-tonne bridge deck with the aid of two specialised rail-mounted ‘Kirow’ cranes.

This operation will ensure the bridge’s safety and reliability for passenger and freight services for many years to come.

With this work is being carried out, further engineers will also be attending to more than 500 metres of the railway north of Banbury station, including track and drainage replacements, to improve the smoothness of journeys and the stability of the track bed.

The railway will be closed between Bicester and Leamington Spa stations as these works are being carried out.

Passengers are also reminded of imminent upcoming engineering works scheduled for this weekend. The railway will be shut between Bicester and Dorridge before 10 am on Sunday 21 July.

Furthermore, the railway will be closed all day between Bicester and Leamington Spa on Sunday 21 July, with bus services replacing trains.

These works are a continuation of what was undertaken last Sunday 14th July.

Bus replacement services will run through these areas, connecting with trains that will be running to and from London Marylebone – Bicester Village, and with trains running to and from Birmingham Moor Street – Leamington Spa

Replacement Buses will operate on the following routes:

• Bicester Village – Banbury – Leamington Spa.
• Bicester Village – Banbury – Stratford-upon-Avon.
• Bicester Village – Kings Sutton – Banbury.

“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we complete over £9m of upgrades on the Chiltern main line between Bicester and Leamington Spa stations this month to help make journeys more reliable.

“If you’re planning to catch a train during the rail closures, please check with Chiltern Railways and at www.nationalrail.co.uk before you travel for information about your journey.”

Adam Checkley, infrastructure director for Network Rail