Network Rail is to start work to protect the railway between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury from abandoned underground mine workings.

The firm will infill one mine shaft in the Hadley area very close to the important route for passengers and freight.

The railway in this part of Shropshire was developed in 1849, not to move local people, but predominantly to move the minerals mined in the area to be taken to trade.

The geography of the railway lines reflect where the largest mineral reserves were found during the industrial revolution.

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Over hundreds of years, hundreds of mines have been excavated and then left abandoned.

Now Network Rail engineers need to protect the railway from the risk of ground movements posed by the instability of the historic mine shafts.

During the essential work, trains will not be able to run and a rail replacement bus service will be in operation between Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury from:

Saturday 18 until Monday 20 March

Saturday 25 until Monday 27 March

Janahan Manickavasagar, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: "The railway was originally built in this part of Shropshire to move the many minerals mined underground by the Victorians, but the labyrinth of workings left by our predecessors can pose a risk to the modern railway.

"So they don't cause unexpected delays in future, we’re carrying out this essential work to secure the mineshaft near Hadley. I’d like to thank passengers in advance for their patience and urge people to check National Rail Enquiries as we will have to stop running trains so we can complete the essential work safely."