No trains west of Worcester Foregate Street from 26 to 30 October. London and Birmingham New Street trains use Shrub Hill; buses run to Malvern and Hereford.

The railway between Worcester and Hereford closes tomorrow for five days. No trains will run between Worcester Foregate Street and Great Malvern or Hereford from Monday 26 to Friday 30 October (National Rail).

The bigger change for Worcester is where its London and Birmingham trains go. GWR trains from London Paddington via Oxford will start and finish at Shrub Hill, not Foregate Street. Birmingham New Street trains will also use Shrub Hill. Network Rail expects normal services to resume on Saturday 31 October (Network Rail).

The quick answer

  • When: Monday 26 to Friday 30 October. Normal trains from Saturday 31 October.
  • Worcester to Malvern, Ledbury or Hereford: rail replacement bus all week.
  • Worcester to London: from Shrub Hill. Some GWR trains that normally run to Great Malvern will run to Foregate Street instead.
  • Worcester to Birmingham New Street: from Shrub Hill. Foregate Street has an amended, limited service to Birmingham Snow Hill.
  • Tickets: valid on the replacement buses at no extra cost.

What runs from each Worcester station

Journey Monday 26 to Friday 30 October
London Paddington via Oxford Starts and ends at Shrub Hill; some trains reach Foregate Street
Birmingham New Street Shrub Hill only
Birmingham Snow Hill Amended, limited service from Foregate Street
Great Malvern, Malvern Link, Colwall, Ledbury, Hereford Replacement buses only
Hereford to Shrub Hill (WMR) Does not run

Source: National Rail engineering notice.

Monday is slightly different. West Midlands Railway trains from Stratford-upon-Avon, Leamington Spa, Dorridge and Birmingham New Street that normally run to Foregate Street will be diverted to Shrub Hill instead. Network Rail’s notes describe a “heavily reduced service” between New Street and Foregate Street that day. From Tuesday to Friday there are no direct New Street to Foregate Street trains (Network Rail).

The replacement buses

Buses will call at:

  • Worcester Shrub Hill
  • Worcester Foregate Street
  • Malvern Link
  • Great Malvern
  • Colwall
  • Ledbury
  • Hereford

West Midlands Railway runs the buses, and GWR passengers can use them at no extra cost. Pick-up points are signed at each station (National Rail). National Rail warns that the buses may be busier than usual.

GWR said in Network Rail’s announcement that the road journey will take longer than the train, and asked passengers to plan ahead. Its trains between Worcester and Bristol Temple Meads via Gloucester still run.

What the work is

Network Rail says the five days cover several jobs at once:

  • renewing 100 metres of track between Henwick and Newlands level crossing
  • upgrading track at Ledbury
  • further maintenance between Worcester Foregate Street and Ledbury
  • drainage work ahead of the wetter autumn and winter months
  • clearing vegetation
  • replacing signalling equipment near Newlands level crossing

Henwick is on the west side of the Severn in St John’s. Newlands level crossing is on the line towards Malvern.

“We know there is never a good time to close the railway, so we’re making the most of these five days to complete a wide range of essential improvements,” said Adam Checkley, engineering director for Network Rail’s Central route.

What it means for you

If you normally catch a London train at Foregate Street, check whether yours now starts at Shrub Hill. The replacement buses also link the two stations.

If you commute to Malvern or Hereford, the bus will take longer than the train. Allow extra time, especially at peak times and with children in half term.

If you are heading to Birmingham New Street, go to Shrub Hill all week. Foregate Street only has the limited Snow Hill service.

Check each journey on the National Rail journey planner before you set off, because times on the day may differ from the normal timetable.

The week after

Late-evening GWR trains between Oxford and Worcester Shrub Hill are replaced by buses or diverted from Monday 2 to Thursday 5 November (National Rail).

Our Worcester train times to London page has the normal timetable. Half-term plans and events are on our Worcester October half term page. Road closures are on Worcester roadworks and travel, and parking in Worcester lists the car parks if you drive in instead.