The Leamington to Coventry line... I'm trying to recall if it went out of use completely before being brought into use for crosscountry services needing Birmingham International.

Passenger services were withdrawn from the line on 18 January 1965 as a result of the Reshaping of British Railways report, and the station was closed, although the line remained open for goods traffic. The cut-off line to Berkswell was closed in 1969, and much of the remaining line was singled during 1972, although some double track was retained through Kenilworth to form a passing loop a short distance north of the station site. Passenger services over the line were restarted in 1977, but as these were long distance, and not local services the station was not reopened[at that time]

On 18 January 1965 British Railways (BR) withdrew passenger services from the line and closed Bedworth station, along with all of the other intermediate stations on the line. BR resumed passenger services on the line in 1987 and reopened Bedworth station in 1988.

On a slightly more serious note: where was this picture (as used in the BBC News item) originally taken?

Cross Country, single track. I really don't know. 

Contributor:PA Images
File size:30.8 MB (1.6 MB Compressed download)

Releases:Model - no | Property - noDo I need a release?
Dimensions:4096 x 2631 px | 34.7 x 22.3 cm | 13.7 x 8.8 inches | 300dpi
Date taken:4 June 2015
Photographer:Joe Giddens
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This image could have imperfections as it’s either historical or reportage.
A Cross Country train approaches Berkswell train station in Solihull

'Significant' bank holiday travel delays expected



Commuters across the West Country are being warned of "significant" travel disruption over the bank holiday weekend.

Passengers on CrossCountry trains are being urged to carefully consider travel times due to on-going strikes with all services cancelled on Saturday 23 August and a reduced service running from 0800–1600 BST on Monday 25 August.

Managing Director of CrossCountry, Shiona Rolfe, said the Rail and Maritime Unions (RMT) decision to strike on Saturday and Monday left the company "disappointed for our passengers".

Meanwhile, the RAC has warned motorists of long delays on the roads with millions of additional journeys being taken over the August bank holiday period.



Ms Rolfe said CrossCountry understood the "inevitable disruption" a rail strike would cause over the bank holiday, assuring users they were in talks with the RMT to "try and reach an agreement".  There will be no CrossCountry service between Birmingham, Reading and the South Coast, and no service between Leicester, Cambridge and Stansted Airport with only a very limited service to the South West and north of York.

Network Rail joined CrossCountry in urging passengers to check ahead of travelling over the weekend with the providers current engineering projects potentially affecting rail travel.

Transport company Inrix predicts the M5 between Bristol and Devon to have the most severe holiday traffic, with junction 15, north of Bristol, to junction 23 (Bridgwater) likely to see delays of more than 40 minutes on Friday and Saturday.

Nick Mullender, RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, said: "With this bank holiday being the last opportunity to enjoy a long weekend before Christmas, our study shows a real eagerness to get out and about with nearly 18 million drivers planning getaway trips.  More traffic on the roads will inevitably lead to more vehicle breakdowns, especially if the sun makes an appearance and people decide on the day to visit popular destinations," he added. They are expecting roads to airports and coastal getaways to be "extremely busy," he added.

Awful journalism yet again. What has the BBC become? (don't answer that!)

Millions of people in the UK face travel disruption on busy roads and due to a rail strike and engineering weeks this bank holiday weekend.

There is likely to be significant disruption on the rail network on the CrossCountry route from Aberdeen to Cornwall because of a strike by the RMT union over pay, safety and staffing.

The RAC has also warned roads will be busy on Friday, with three million getaway journeys planned, and particularly heavy traffic on the M5 between Bristol and Devon.

Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Network Rail has advised all passengers to check their journeys before travelling due to the strikes and rail works.

There will be no CrossCountry services on Saturday, meaning there will be no direct trains connecting Birmingham to Leicester, Derby or Nottingham.

On Sunday, although industrial action is not taking place, alterations and cancellations are to be expected.

On Monday, there will be a strike, but there will be limited services on all Cross Country lines between 08:00 BST and 18:00.

Trains between Birmingham, Reading and the South Coast will not run, as well as services between Leicester, Cambridge and Stansted airport.

There will only be a very limited service to the south west and north of York.

Meanwhile, on the East Coast Main Line, LNER will have no direct trains to London King's Cross on Sunday, with engineering projects taking place on other routes too.

(BBC article continues)

Millions of people have been warned of disruption over the bank holiday weekend, as heavy traffic, rail works and strikes threaten to throw travel plans into disarray.

About 17.6 million getaway trips are expected to be made by car across the UK between Friday and the bank holiday on Monday, the RAC said, urging drivers to set off early or prepare to spend longer in traffic.

For those travelling on England's roads, the RAC said the South East and South West regions could experience some of the worst congestion.

CrossCountry advised rail passengers not to travel on Saturday, ahead of a strike by the RMT union, while Network Rail said several major routes would be closed for engineering works.

Monday is a bank holiday in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Large crowds are expected to head to events including London's Notting Hill Carnival, the Reading and Leeds festivals and the Creamfields festival in Cheshire.

Inrix, a transport analytics firm, said the M5 between Bristol and Devon could see the most severe traffic. The stretch from junction 15 north of Bristol to junction 23 for Bridgwater likely to see delays of more than 40 minutes on Friday and Saturday.

Motorists should also brace for hold-ups lasting more than half an hour on Friday on the M20 in Kent - a busy route for crossing the Channel via Dover or Folkestone.

"We're expecting major roads to airports and coastal destinations to be extremely busy, especially the south-east and south-west regions which could end up bearing the brunt of most holiday hold-ups," Nick Mullender, the RAC's mobile servicing and repairs team leader, said. "Anyone planning routes through these areas should set off as early as possible or be prepared to spend longer in traffic."

Network Rail said the "vast majority" of the railway would run this weekend, despite plans to carry out works on more than 260 projects across Britain. But it told passengers to check their journeys in advance to ensure their route would not be affected.

On Sunday, there will be no long-distance services between London King's Cross and Peterborough, disrupting journeys by LNER and Lumo on the East Coast Main Line.

Avanti West Coast will operate a reduced service to and from London Euston - trains between Birmingham New Street and Birmingham International will be diverted, adding extra time to journeys between Saturday and Monday.

Some CrossCountry services will also be diverted, which will extend journey times, while London Northwestern services will run to and from Birmingham International only.

CrossCountry is running a reduced timetable over the weekend, with no services on Saturday. Services on Sunday could also be cancelled, it said.

(BBC article continues)