Rail passengers advised to check travel over festive period

West Midlands Railway (WMR) passengers are being reminded to check journey planners before travelling over the festive period.

Due to Christmas markets, amended timetables and rail infrastructure upgrades, services are expected to be busier than usual across the railway network.

WMR will be operating an amended timetable, with no trains running on Christmas Day and Boxing Day and train services finishing earlier than usual on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.

Additionally, essential track maintenance will be taking place on some WMR routes:

• 28 Dec: Services between Worcester and Kidderminster/Bromsgrove will be operated by rail replacement buses until 4pm
• Overnight 31 Dec – 1 Jan: Routes between Birmingham and Lichfield Trent Valley/Tame Bridge Parkway will be operated by rail replacement buses from 10pm on 31 Dec until 10am on 1 Jan.

Customers travelling with WMR’s sister brand, London Northwestern Railway, are also being notified of vital track upgrades near Milton Keynes between 27 Dec – 5 Jan. Rail replacement services will be in operation on some routes to and from London Euston during this period.

Jonny Wiseman, LNR customer experience director, said: “We’re encouraging passengers travelling over Christmas to plan their journeys in advance. Due to engineering works, rail replacement buses may be in operation for certain routes, so make sure to check journey planners and ensure you leave plenty of time to travel.”

For more information about travelling with WMR this Christmas, visit www.wmr.uk/festivetravel