Railway line closing for upgrade

There will be no trains between Bedford and Bletchley next week while the line closes for improvement work.

Replacing or upgrading seven kilometres (4.3 miles) of track will begin on Monday, 13 February. The line is due to reopen on Sunday, 20 February.

Operator Silverlink Trains is to provide a bus service linking all the stations along the line.

Network Rail says the improvements will result in a a more reliable service for passengers in the area.

Escort for pedestrians

Work in the Lidlington area means the Station Road and Marston Road level crossings will close to traffic and diversions will be in place from 2000 GMT on Saturday, 11 February until 0900 GMT on Wednesday, 15 February.

Pedestrians wanting to cross the line must contact the duty shift manager who will arrange for an escort. Contact details will be posted at the crossing points.

A new section of track will also be installed at West Bletchley, and the section of line between Bletchley and Newton Longville not used since the 1980s will be brought back in to service allowing trains to reach a depot at Stewartby.

This will mean that from 1 April, the line will be in use 24 hours a day, and will be used by approximately five trains a day.