To wonder whats happened to the Birmingham-Reading train

[Mycathatesmecuddling]

I used to get a train from Birmingham to Reading, but now its disappeared and it wants to send me via london or other station's

I can't find any planned works, I cant find any explanation, and I just want to know when it will be back in case I can delay my journey.

Its like it never existed and I have just dreamt it. Has anyone else taken this train? Do you know whats happened to it? Or AIBU to expect a train between Birmingham and Reading at all and did this never actually exist?

@Mycathatesmecuddling another alternative route is Birmingham (Moor St or Snow Hill) to Marylebone. Quick walk down road to Baker Street Tube, then tube to Paddington and then out to Reading (Elizabeth Line or GWR).

@Mycathatesmecuddling oh hang on....you don't need to go down to Baker St. You can get on the Bakerloo line at Marylebone to Paddington - about 3 stops I think.

Yes it is and it's that closure which is causing there to be replacement buses between Oxford and Didcot, it's nothing to do with the station bridge work. I'm not aware that the work on the bridge at Oxford station is going to result in an extended closure of the line south - Cross country's website indicates that normal services are due to be resumed on June 10th which would mean no more buses.

@ArseInTheCoOpWindow exactly. There used to be a York -oxford train and now you have to go via London. Total ballache

Where are you looking for train tickets OP? If you don't mind travelling on the replacement bus, looks like Cross Country are still selling tickets for that journey via Oxford. It obviously takes longer than usual, and once you get to Didcot you may well be on a First Great Western train rather than a Cross Country one, but as long as your ticket is a "via any permitted route" one that will be fine.

If you prefer travelling on "inter-city" type trains and want to avoid crossing London, then travel via Bristol Parkway (approx 1/2 hourly, takes 2.1/2 hours) or via Cheltenham (approx hourly, takes 2.1/4 hours). Changing at Cheltenham you don't even have to swap platforms.

The closure at Nuneham Bridge will be until at least June 10th. See the article below, especially the final photo showing the bridge well on its way to collapsing.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-oxfordshire-65397495