The line will be closed from Monday, with buses replacing trains, while track and signal engineers finish off a six-week programme of work over the summer, which has seen all or part of the route closed since mid-July. Normal rail services will resume on Tuesday, September 1.

In Worcestershire, track has been renewed and repositioned between Evesham and Aldington, and east of Honeybourne, clearing the way for 16 miles of extra track to be laid next year to Moreton-in-Marsh in Gloucestershire.

Among the finshing touches being carried out next week is the repacking of stone chippings which support the track, to allow trains to run at full speed when the line reopens. Engineers will also be completing renewal of signalling equipment.

Work in and around Chipping Campden tunnel, in Gloucestershire, the key element of this summer’s work, is almost complete, with new double track laid through the tunnel, three kilometres (1.8 miles) of new drains installed, 11,500 tonnes of old stone from the trackbed removed - much of which has been reused - and 7,500 tones of new stone chippings laid to support the tracks.