A landslip at Harbury Cutting between Banbury and Leamington Spa, estimated at over 600,000 tons of material, has closed the Oxford to Birmingham mainline. Buses are replacing passenger services between Banbury and Leamington Spa. Both Class 67/68 hauled Chiltern trains from Marylebone to Birmingham and freight services are affected.
Freight services south of Birmingham are being diverted via the West Coast Mainline and then the Great Western Mainline, although car trains from Castle Bromwich and Halewood are now tending to use the LSWR Mainline via Woking. It is not known how long the line will be closed for.
(PL)
