Rail disruption after embankment damage

Train timetables in Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Birmingham have been "heavily amended" following damage to an embankment near the railway line.

The changes were announced by West Midlands Railway on Sunday after the damage happened between Droitwich Spa and Worcester Foregate Street.

Repairs will mean an hourly shuttle service running from Foregate Street to Hereford, calling at all stations.

No direct services are running between Worcester Foregate Street and Droitwich Spa, but the line between Worcester Shrub Hill and Worcester Foregate Street to Droitwich Spa remained open with an amended service in place, Network Rail said.

Passengers planning to travel between Birmingham city centre and Droitwich or Worcester were asked to use services between Birmingham Snow Hill towards Worcester Shrub Hill.

Similarly, those who were expecting to travel between Birmingham University and Droitwich or Worcester were asked to make their way to Birmingham Snow Hill for onward services towards Worcester.

Alternatively, passengers could take a connecting train to Smethwick Galton Bridge for onward services towards Worcester, a spokesperson said.

Network Rail said the landslip damaged a railway cutting on Thursday afternoon, and a short-term solution was put in place to allow trains to continue running.

The company said the retaining wall further collapsed on Saturday afternoon, causing concern among its engineers about the earth above.

They said more than 1,200 tonnes of soil was being dug out by machines and more than 240 concrete blocks were being installed to protect 125 metres (137yds) of railway track.

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