Henley-on-Thames rail replacement bus

[thomasheywood]

Why is there no service on the Henley branch today? There’s no information on any closures today either on National Rail or GWR…

Rail Engineering works: Henley on Thames 28 July | National Rail

Track renewal work: Buses replace trains between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August. See details of routes affected by planned rail engineering works, including when they take effect, alternative timetables, advice for alternative travel, including info about...

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Engineering work details
Starts Monday 28 July 2025 to Friday 01 August 2025

Route(s) affected​

Between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford

Description​

Engineering work is taking place between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford, closing all lines. Background information on this work can be found below.

Buses will replace trains between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford.

Also the 00:18 (Tue-Fri) Henley-on-Thames to Reading service will not run and will be part replaced by an earlier replacement bus from Shiplake, calling at Henley-on-Thames, Wargrave and Twyford. Rail connections are available from Twyford to Reading.

Background information:

Network Rail are to close the line between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford for 5 days whilst they undertake track maintenance work. 100 metres of track, sleepers and ballast will be replaced to keep the line safe and reliable. Structural surveys and other maintenance including the removal of overgrown vegetation will also take place.

Engineers will be working around the clock to complete this important work which will keep trains running smoothly for passengers for years to come. More information is available on the Network Rail website.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.

You can find the pick-up and set-down location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.

 

[davetheguard]

Engineering work for track replacement all week up to and including Friday 1st August according to NRES.

 

[bluenoxid]

Track Renewal Work until Friday.

Rail Engineering works: Henley on Thames 28 July | National Rail

Track renewal work: Buses replace trains between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August. See details of routes affected by planned rail engineering works, including when they take effect, alternative timetables, advice for alternative travel, including info about...

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Planned Engineering Work and Disruption | Great Western Railway

Find out about planned engineering works, travel disruption and changes to Great Western Railway's published train timetables here.

www.gwr.com

 

[thomasheywood]

Track Renewal Work until Friday.

Rail Engineering works: Henley on Thames 28 July | National Rail

Track renewal work: Buses replace trains between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford from Monday 28 July to Friday 1 August. See details of routes affected by planned rail engineering works, including when they take effect, alternative timetables, advice for alternative travel, including info about...

www.nationalrail.co.uk

Planned Engineering Work and Disruption | Great Western Railway

Find out about planned engineering works, travel disruption and changes to Great Western Railway's published train timetables here.

www.gwr.com

I don’t know why the closure is not advertised when you look at the live times, it’s pretty poor that you have to search for information

 

[Benjwri]

I don’t know why the closure is not advertised when you look at the live times, it’s pretty poor that you have to search for information

It’s made pretty clear that it’s a rail replacement bus when you look for an itinerary. This is very standard for engineering.

It was also being advertised at Henley and Twyford when I was there a few weeks ago.

 

[thomasheywood]

It’s made pretty clear that it’s a rail replacement bus when you look for an itinerary. This is very standard for engineering.

It was also being advertised at Henley and Twyford when I was there a few weeks ago.

Sure it tells you that a rail replacement bus is running, but there’s no info on why there’s no trains

 

[Benjwri]

Sure it tells you that a rail replacement bus is running, but there’s no info on why there’s no trains

There are posters at the stations with do. But to be honest why doesnt really matter to the average user. To make it appear a disruption notice would have to be issued, which is absolutely overkill for a situation like this.

It only takes a quick Google to find out why.

 

[yorkie]

Sure it tells you that a rail replacement bus is running, but there’s no info on why there’s no trains

NRE does give the reason.

It's also on BBC News:

...Replacement buses, which do not follow the train route and have a different timetable, will run between Twyford and Shiplake via Henley.

Network Rail said 100m of track, sleepers and ballast would be replaced while surveys and other maintenance would also be carried out....

 

[Horizon22]

I'm a little confused here - you've said there's no information on National Rail which you've then linked to and also said there's no information on why there's no trains, which there is?

Network Rail are to close the line between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford for 5 days whilst they undertake track maintenance work. 100 metres of track, sleepers and ballast will be replaced to keep the line safe and reliable. Structural surveys and other maintenance including the removal of overgrown vegetation will also take place.

Engineers will be working around the clock to complete this important work which will keep trains running smoothly for passengers for years to come. More information is available on the Network Rail website.

I would agree that the info on the GWR website is rather buried.

 

[Benjwri]

I would agree that the info on the GWR website is rather buried.

It’s on the Planned Engineering page, and has been all over the GWR Twitter. I would say it’s fairly easy to find.

 

[Horizon22]

It’s on the Planned Engineering page, and has been all over the GWR Twitter. I would say it’s fairly easy to find.

Yes but that is at least 3 clicks from the homepage. I might have thought it worthy of a small banner, even if it is a branch. Don't check Twitter much these days.

 

[mcmad]

Network Rail are to close the line between Henley-on-Thames and Twyford for 5 days whilst they undertake track maintenance work. 100 metres of track, sleepers and ballast will be replaced to keep the line safe and reliable. Structural surveys and other maintenance including the removal of overgrown vegetation will also take place.

5 days to do 100m seems somewhat excessive?

 

[davetheguard]

5 days to do 100m seems somewhat excessive?

Agreed if it was just that. But structural surveys & vegetation removal are also mentioned.

 

[Forty29]

Track replacement and other work on the curve on the branch off the main line at Twyford and before the straight to Wargrave.

 

[CarltonA]

Small busses have been brought up from the Solent area. The road between the A4 at Twyford and Henley is quite narrow and winding and the bus bounces over the cats eyes leading to an uncomfortable journey.

The track was lifted in Henley station on Monday when I visited.

Shiplake is on the wrong side of the river for the bus to call on the way so has to be served last/first.

 

[Thames99]

Full size buses including double deckers are used on the 850 on the same road so I imagine smaller buses are cheaper to hire and reflect expected passenger numbers. It would make more sense for buses to continue to Reading after Shiplake - I'm sure this has happened in the past when the Henley branch has been closed.