Upcoming Engineering Works to Disrupt Train Services in Worcester Area

Essential track replacement work by Network Rail will affect Great Western Railway services in the Worcester area from April 22-26. Replacement buses and alternative travel arrangements are planned.

 

Great Western Railway (GWR) services through Hereford and Worcester will experience disruptions next week due to crucial engineering works planned by Network Rail. The focus of the work is the replacement of tracks between Worcester Shrub Hill and Evesham stations, aimed at enhancing the safety and reliability of the railway.

The engineering work is scheduled from Monday, April 22 to Friday, April 26. During this period, services will be adjusted as follows:

• Trains will continue to operate between London Paddington and Evesham via Oxford.
• Services between Bristol Temple Meads and Worcester will terminate at Gloucester, with additional services operating between Gloucester and Cheltenham Spa.
• CrossCountry will maintain train services between Gloucester, Cheltenham Spa, Ashchurch for Tewkesbury, and Worcestershire Parkway.
• West Midlands Railway will continue to operate between Worcester Foregate Street and Hereford.
• Replacement bus services will be available between Worcester Foregate Street and either Evesham or Cheltenham Spa.

Additionally, all parking bays at Evesham station will be suspended from midnight on Thursday, April 18 to midnight on Friday, April 26 to accommodate the works.

Billy White, GWR Station Manager for Oxford, Didcot, and North Cotswolds, emphasized the importance of the maintenance work: “This improvement work is part of an ongoing programme that helps us ensure the provision of consistent and reliable services. We will offer rail replacement services and have agreed on ticket acceptance on alternative routes to mitigate the impact on our passengers."

Travelers using the affected routes are advised to expect longer journey times, especially those rerouted via Birmingham or Bristol Parkway. Mark Parker, Lead Portfolio Manager for Network Rail, expressed gratitude for passengers' patience during this period: “Once complete, this vital work will enable continued safe and reliable services on this popular route for many years to come.”

Passengers are encouraged to check GWR’s dedicated upgrade page at GWR.com/Upgrade for the latest information and to plan their travel accordingly during the disruption.