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Tuesday 22 Sep 2026

Major railway upgrade means no trains to or from Birmingham New Street this Christmas

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: Central

Passengers are being warned of major Christmas engineering work at Birmingham New Street which will mean no train services to or from the station from 24 to 28 December.

Network Rail will begin a £13m upgrade of the overhead power lines - which keep electric trains on the move - on the approaches to and through the station as part of a long-term plan to improve reliability.

From Thursday 24 December to Monday 28 December 2026, engineers will renew complex sections of the wiring, much of which dates back to the 1960s.

The Christmas 2026 work is the first phase of a three-year programme, with further work taking place over the Christmas period in 2027 and 2028.

Network Rail, train operators and transport partners are working closely together to minimise the impact as much as possible so passengers can make their planned journeys - but the extent and scale of the work means journeys will take longer and may involve dedicated rail-replacement buses or using the local bus network.

Martin Colmey, route director for Network Rail Central route, said: “Birmingham New Street is at the heart of the rail network, supporting millions of local, regional and national journeys every year.

“Much of the overhead line equipment dates back to the 1960s and needs to be replaced. This £13m investment has been carefully planned to make the railway more reliable.

“There is never a good time for this type of work and we have done all we can to reduce its impact as much as possible. Christmas is a quieter time but we know it will affect journeys at an important time of the year.

“We want to make people aware as early as possible so they can plan ahead. As soon as tickets are available to buy for Christmas travel, there will be clear, detailed information to help passengers plan their journeys and make informed decisions.”

Birmingham New Street station plays an important role in how people move around the city centre, so the station building will remain open during the engineering work, allowing people to continue accessing shops, including Grand Central, and the wider city centre.

Facilities in the station, including the assisted travel lounge and toilets, will remain open, and there will be staff on hand every day to provide help and assistance to those who need it.

More information about alternative travel options, journey times, rail-replacement buses and advice on using other transport providers will be shared at www.nationalrail.co.uk/newstreetclosure as soon as plans are finalised. Timetables for Christmas travel will be confirmed and made available online from early October.