Press release -
Marston Vale Line: Disruption continues until Monday
Rail passengers and road users are being warned of continued disruption because of a fault with three automatic level crossings on the Marston Vale Line in Bedfordshire.
Investigations are underway to find out why the automatic train detection systems are not working as they should at the level crossings in Marston, Green Lane in Stewartby, and Kempston Hardwick.
To keep trains running as far as Stewartby, Marston level crossing is closed to road traffic, and Green Lane is being manually operated. The railway is closed between Stewartby and Bedford with London Northwestern Railway providing replacement buses so passengers can complete their journeys.
From Monday (March 9), a revised timetable will see rail services running all the way to Bedford, but Kempston Hardwick level crossing will then also be closed to road users.
James Dean, director for Network Rail’s West Coast Mainline South route, said: “We’re sorry to passengers and road users affected by problems with three level crossings on the Marston Vale line. Investigations are underway with the level crossing manufacturer and London Northwestern Railway to find out why the automatic system which lowers the crossing barriers is not working as it should.
“To keep passengers and road users safe closing some roads and the suspension of the line between Stewartby and Bedford is necessary. We thank people for their patience while we work as fast as we can to get the level crossings working normally again.”
Lawrence Bowman, customer experience director for London Northwestern Railway, which operates services on the Marston Vale Line, said: "We apologise to our customers for the ongoing disruption to journeys on the Marston Vale Line while Network Rail engineers continue to work in the affected area.
"The safety of our passengers and staff is of paramount importance and we cannot allow trains to run until we receive the all-clear. Passengers are advised to check live travel information before setting out and to leave more time for their journeys, particularly if travelling between Stewartby and Bedford."
Any passengers delayed by 15 minutes or more as a result of the issue can claim compensation via the Delay Repay scheme at www.lnr.uk/delayrepay
Rail passengers can check their journeys by visiting www.lnr.uk/plan
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About West Midlands Trains
For further information on this release, call our press office on 03300 955150 or email press.office@wmtrains.co.uk
West Midlands Trains operates both West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services.
- London Northwestern Railway services operate between Liverpool and Birmingham, and on the West Coast mainline to and from London Euston.
- West Midlands Railway services operate to destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street.
For more information on these services visit westmidlandsrailway.co.uk or londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk
The West Midlands Trains franchise started on 10 December 2017 and will run until 2025/26.
West Midlands Trains operates 1,300 services a day, manages 150 stations and provides over 80 million passenger journeys a year. Over the course of the franchise, West Midlands Trains will be investing £1 billion into the rail network to deliver new trains, improved routes and station upgrades. This will include 400 new train carriages across the network and space for an extra 85,000 passengers into Birmingham and London at peak times.
The franchise is a joint venture between Abellio (70.1% share) and East Japan Railway Company / Mitsui & Co., Ltd (29.9% share in a 50:50 split). Abellio is the international passenger transport subsidiary of the Dutch national railway company, Nederlandse Spoorwegen. In the UK, Abelllio operates ScotRail and Greater Anglia train services, Merseyrail services in a joint venture with Serco and buses through Abellio London. For more information visit www.abellio.com
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