Easter rail shutdown: HS2 works set to disrupt Aylesbury to London route

Passengers travelling between Aylesbury and London via Great Missenden are being urged to prepare for disruption over the Easter bank holiday, as major HS2 engineering work forces a temporary closure of the line.

The work follows the construction of the 345-metre Small Dean Viaduct at Wendover, completed last year as part of the HS2 project. Engineers will now install around 4,000 tonnes of stone at the site, where future high-speed trains will cross the existing railway.

This phase of construction is aimed at restoring the railway boundary and ensuring the line can continue to operate safely and reliably while work on Britain’s new high-speed route progresses in the surrounding area.

To allow the work to take place, the railway will be shut for four days, from Friday 3 April through to Monday 6 April. During this period, rail replacement buses will operate between Aylesbury and Great Missenden, with passengers advised to check their journeys in advance and allow extra time for travel.

Patrick Cawley, Director of On Network Works for Network Rail and HS2, said:

“I’d like to thank Chiltern Railways’ customers for their patience while our work to construct HS2 - Britain’s new high-speed railway continues in Buckinghamshire. While engineers complete major work at Wendover over the Easter bank holiday weekend, we’re urging passengers to check before they travel with National Rail Enquiries.”

Michael Stewart, Commercial & Customer Strategy Director at Chiltern Railways, said:

"I would like to thank our customers for their patience while the HS2 work is being carried out. I urge our customers in the area to check their journeys during this closure as they will be disrupted and may involve a rail replacement bus."

Image: Network Rail