Train passengers in Buckinghamshire are continuing to experience delays and cancellations following a landslip on a railway line caused by heavy rainfall.
Chiltern Railways first warned travellers of disruption and cancellations to train services across its network on Thursday, January 11, after a landslip occurred on the line between Haddenham and Thame Parkway and Bicester North.
A signal failure on the line between Gerrards Cross and West Ruislip yesterday (January 13) caused further chaos, with all trains between High Wycombe and London Marylebone temporarily halted.
A reduced service is now running between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone, with trains starting and terminating at Bicester North or Haddenham and Thame Parkway.
All services between Oxford and London Marylebone have been cancelled until urgent repair works on the line impacted by the landslip conclude. The works are underway today and tomorrow (January 15).
Due to a landslip in the Bicester North area, the line towards the Midlands is blocked. Network Rail are on site assessing the damage and the required repairs.
— Chiltern Railways (@chilternrailway) January 11, 2024
A reduced service is able to run between Birmingham Moor Street and London Marylebone, but services between Oxford and… pic.twitter.com/LXFwRtxAqE
Despite some services continuing to run, and alternative bus routes in place between Aylesbury and Oxford (X7) and High Wycombe and Princes Risborough (X9 and X90), Chiltern Railways has urged all customers to reconsider travelling on the network today and tomorrow.
A spokesperson said: “Due to heavy rainfall, a landslip occurred on January 11 on the Chiltern main line between Bicester North and Haddenham and Thame Parkway.
“The line has been partially blocked, meaning that fewer services have been able to run on the one track available since the disruption began.
DO NOT TRAVEL!
— Chiltern Railways (@chilternrailway) January 14, 2024
Please remember we are advising customers NOT to travel today due to the line closure at Bicester.
Services are exceptionally busy due to the bus replacement services between Haddenham and Bicester, which is causing further disruption. https://t.co/09KLu33n9t pic.twitter.com/fRXiN9E4QH
“Ticket acceptance is in place with Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry, Great Western Railway, London Northwestern Railway and London Underground/Elizabeth Line via any reasonable route.
“(However), we strongly advise that customers do not travel and seek alternative travel via other routes wherever possible.”
View Chiltern Railways’ emergency timetable for today (January 14) here.
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