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Wednesday 10 Jul 2024

Major engineering work to affect CrossCountry journeys next month

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: Central

Rail passengers are being advised about changes to journeys over ten days in August 2024 while essential engineering work takes place in the Duddeston area of Birmingham.

Major alterations to tracks will take place between 17 and 26 August as part of long-term improvements to the network, including preparations for HS2 – Britain’s new high-speed railway.

The work involves relocating a railway signal and moving a section of track across a new bridge at Duddeston Mill Road which has been built by HS2 and its contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI. The changes will allow HS2 to construct a new viaduct which will carry high speed trains over the existing railway and into Birmingham Curzon Street station in the future.

Between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway stations Network Rail engineers will also be replacing 450 metres of track and two 'crossovers' which are sections of track that enable trains to move from one track to another. A third crossover is being relocated to help improve the flow of trains through the area. These vital upgrades will help to make journeys smoother and more reliable for passengers and freight services.

The routes affected include services between:

• Birmingham New Street and Leicester, Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.
• Cardiff Central and Birmingham New Street to Nottingham.
• Scotland, the North East to Birmingham New Street and the South West.

Every effort is being made during construction to reduce the impact on passengers’ journeys, but the scale of this phase of work means the railway must be closed to trains over the ten days.

Patrick Cawley, director of ‘On Network Works’ for Network Rail and HS2, said: “Work to prepare for HS2 is progressing well in Birmingham and I'd like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this next phase of work to move tracks and a railway signal at Duddeston in August.

“If you're planning to travel while the railway is closed, please check your journey in advance with CrossCountry or by using the National Rail Enquiries website or app.”

Georgia Ehrmann, CrossCountry’s Regional Director for the West Midlands and North West, said: “I want to thank passengers in advance for their patience while our industry partners carry out this vital work to prepare for the arrival of HS2.

“We’d ask passengers planning to travel to Water Orton and Coleshill Parkway, or through the Birmingham area between 16 and 27 August to check before travelling and leave more time than usual for their journey.”

To keep passengers on the move, CrossCountry’s long distance trains will be diverted around the work but this will mean longer journey times.

Meanwhile the train operator’s regional services linking the East Midlands and Anglia with Birmingham will start and finish at Coleshill Parkway.

Replacement buses will operate between Coleshill Parkway, Water Orton and Birmingham New Street stations.

Improvement work will also be taking place over the weekends 10 to 11 August and 31 August to 1 September affecting CrossCountry journeys.

Motorists are being advised that during the major work, Coleshill Parkway station car park will be closed between Saturday 17 and Tuesday 27 August. Customers are being asked to remove all vehicles by the end of Friday 16 August.

Passengers who need extra help while travelling are advised to contact CrossCountry’s Passenger Assist team by calling 0800 030 9224 or emailing assistance@crosscountrytrains.co.uk.

People should check www.nationalrail.co.uk before travelling and can find further information on CrossCountry’s dedicated webpage.