PASSENGERS travelling between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction are warned of five days of journey changes which start this weekend.

West Midlands Railway and Chiltern Railways services will be affected due to track improvement work taking place between Langley Green and Stourbridge from Sunday October 27 until Thursday October 31.

Network Rail engineers will be working round-the-clock to replace track and improve drainage to help keep the railway and journeys through the area safe and reliable.

While the essential work takes place, buses will replace trains between Stourbridge Junction and Birmingham Snow Hill with a limited train service between Birmingham Snow Hill and Smethwick Galton Bridge at peak times.

No Chiltern Railways services will operate between Stourbridge Junction and stations to Birmingham Moor Street. Local journeys on this route can be undertaken using rail replacement bus services.

Adam Checkley, infrastructure director for Network Rail, said: “I am sorry for the disruption caused while we complete this essential maintenance work between Langley Green and Stourbridge. It has been carefully planned and will help to make journeys more reliable in future.

“If you're planning to travel, please check with your train operator and at www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest journey information and travel advice.”

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway, said: “I’m grateful for our passengers’ patience while Network Rail carries out essential engineering works on the Snow Hill line for five days, beginning this Sunday.

“I urge passengers to check their journey ahead of time. Up-to-date information is available via journey planners, our website and social media channels.”

Michael Stewart, commercial and customer strategy director at Chiltern Railways, said: "I would like to thank customers for their patience while Network Rail carries out these crucial track and drainage upgrades. Our customers travelling between Stourbridge Junction and stations to Birmingham Snow Hill will need to use rail replacement buses which are now showing in journey planners."