Passengers and local residents who travel between Bicester and Leamington Spa on the Chiltern Mainline have been thanked for their cooperation, as the Chiltern Main Line was closed for five days to facilitate a bridge replacement and track relaying works.

The line re-opened in full to all services yesterday Thursday 1st August, allowing trains to travel direct once more between London Marylebone and Birmingham Snow Hill.

The works undertaken by Network Rail and its partners at Story Contracting replace a railway bridge over the River Cherwell at near Kings Sutton station to the south of Banbury.

Work progressed 24/7 to replace the bridge, which saw a new 240-tonne bridge deck has been successfully installed using two specialised rail-mounted ‘Kirow’ cranes.

This new infrastructure is designed to provide safe service for both passengers and freight for many years ahead.

Simultaneously, more than 500 metres of railway north of Banbury station underwent upgrades, which involved replacing sections of track and improving drainage systems to better accommodate changing weather patterns and enhance the smoothness of journeys.

“This bridge replacement and track and drainage upgrade on the Chiltern main line between Bicester and Leamington Spa means more reliable journeys for passengers and freight. Thank you to passengers for their patience while we completed this essential work.”

Adam Checkley, infrastructure director for Network Rail’s Central route

“I’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding during the five-day closure as Network Rail carried out crucial engineering works.

“Normal service has resumed and the engineering works will ensure more reliable journeys for customers travelling on the route in the future.”

Andy Camp, commercial and customer strategy director at Chiltern Railways

Network Rail have already carried out a handful of major projects across the Chiltern Railways region so far this year, with the line south of Aylesbury being shut for HS2 bridge installation works last Easter and repairs to an embankment near Bicester that suffered a landslip back in January.