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Tuesday 20 Oct 2009

£1.5M INVESTMENT IN CROSS CITY LINE

Region & Route:

Work has started on a £1.5m upgrade to the track on the Cross City line south. Passengers will benefit from five miles of new track giving a smoother ride and less disruption from maintenance in the future.

The planned renewals are taking place over 11 weeks at Northfield, Selly Oak and Longbridge. The majority of the work is being undertaken at weekends and weekday nights to cause minimum disruption to the travelling public. Work started on 13 September at Selly Oak and will finish on 22 November with the final pieces of track being replaced at Northfield.

Jo Kaye, route director said:

“The Cross City Line is a hugely important route for Birmingham and keeping the track well maintained and trains running are vitally important for the city’s economy. Working through the night and all day on Sundays means that we can keep the city moving through the week whilst these important renewals take place.”

Network Rail uses large machinery as well as an army of up to 60 at a time to remove the old track and sleepers, replace the concrete sleepers and lengths of rail and pack it with stone.

During the work buses will replace trains on the Cross City line between Birmingham New Street and Redditch on Sundays. Passengers are advised to check with London Midland or National Rail Enquiries before they travel.