Engineering works throughout January 2025

Final date for planned major engineering works in January 2025

• Sunday 19 January, Network rail are carrying out maintenance and improvement works at Oxford, Banbury, Leamington Spa, Small Heath and Birmingham. All Journeys that pass through the affected area(s) will take considerably longer than usual. Please allow plenty of time for your journey.

What work is happening and why?

• The engineering works on Sunday will work to improve drainage, cut back vegetation, inspect and maintain tunnels, and complete track maintenance to help keep the railway and journeys safe and reliable for passengers and freight services.  Additionally, the timings of these works are scheduled outside of busy travel periods to minimise disruption and avoid dates where a number of sporting and music events are planned.

Please see summary with route maps below, that show the affected parts of our network.  

Sunday 19 January - The railway is closed between Bicester North/Banbury and Birmingham Moor Street and also between Leamington Spa and Stratford Upon Avon all day.  

There are some changes between the morning and afternoon; the line will be closed for the route north of Bicester (until 13:30) then the section of the line between Bicester and Banbury will open after 13:30 (approximately). Additionally, the railway between is closed between Oxford Parkway and Oxford until 15:15.

During these periods, rail replacement buses will operate as follows, connecting with trains at Bicester Village and Oxford Parkway: 

• Bicester Village - Banbury - Leamington Spa - Warwick - Warwick Parkway - Dorridge - Solihull - Birmingham Moor Street (until approximately 13.30).
• Bicester Village - Stratford Upon Avon (until approximately 13.30).
• Bicester Village - Kings Sutton - Banbury (until approximately 13.30).
• Banbury - Leamington Spa - Warwick - Warwick Parkway - Dorridge - Solihull - Birmingham Moor Street (from approximately 13.30).
• Leamington Spa - Warwick - Stratford Upon Avon Parkway - Stratford Upon Avon (all day).

• CrossCountry Trains services may be used between Leamington Spa and Birmingham New Street (via Coventry).

  All Journeys that pass through the affected area(s) will take considerably longer than usual. Please allow plenty of time for your journey.

  Sunday 19 January (before 13:25):

Sunday 19 January (after 13:25):  

More information on replacement bus services: 

To view the station facilities which includes more information on replacement buses and onward travel, please click the station you are travelling to/from for more information on our station facilities pages here 

Please note, only folding bicycles and and assistance animals are permitted on our replacement bus services. For further information, please visit our FAQ's page here

Impact on station facilities:  

Banbury station: 

Customers that plan to travel from Banbury station are advised that the Westside is closed in line with the Banbury Tramway works project. Customers who plan to arrive at the station by car should park, or use the short stay drop off parking at the Eastside multi-storey car park (RingGo location code 2625).  Blue badge parking bays can be located on platform 2, which has level access with the Eastside station entrance.

Passenger Assistance

For customers who may need special passenger assistance, this can be booked via our dedicated passenger assistance team up to two hours ahead of travel. For more information, click here.