Millions invested into West Midlands railway improvements

Wednesday 17 Feb 2021

Millions invested into West Midlands railway improvements

Region & Route:: North West & Central; | North West & Central: Central

More than 6km of railway track is being replaced across the West Midlands as the rail industry works together to build back better after the coronavirus pandemic.

Network Rail is investing more than £3m to renew track along key routes to get the railway is in the best possible condition for passengers ready when coronavirus travel restrictions can be eased.

The work will take place during this latest period of national lockdown - when only essential journeys are permitted – so fewer passengers will be affected the railway closures needed for the new track to be built.

As old track will be torn up and new modern railway lines laid, some routes will be shut and rail replacement bus services will be in operation instead.

Dave Penney, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “While passenger numbers are still low, we’re making sure the railway across the West Midlands is in the best possible shape ready to welcome passengers back when lockdown measures can be eased.

“For those who are still travelling by rail for reasons permitted by government, I’d urge people to check National Rail Enquiries before they set off on their journey so they know what to expect.”

Alex Warner, chairperson of the Grand Rail Collaboration, representing train operators across the West Midlands, said: “This investment in the West Midlands rail network will allow us to welcome passengers back to comfortable and reliable journeys as soon as we’re able.”

Those using the rail network for essential journeys should leave more time to complete their journeys and check before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk or with their train operator: CrossCountry, Chiltern Railways, London Northwestern Railway or West Midlands Trains.

Notes to Editors

Rail replacement bus services will be in operation:

On Saturday 20 February, between Birmingham New Street and Tamworth, and between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway;
On Sunday 21 February, between Tamworth and Burton-on-Trent, between Birmingham New Street and Nuneaton, and between Tame Bridge Parkway and Rugeley Trent Valley;
On Saturday 27 February, between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway, and between Birmingham New Street and Tamworth (via Wilnecote).
On Sunday 28 February, between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway, between Birmingham New Street and Tamworth (via Wilnecote), and between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley;
On Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 March, between Warwick Parkway and Stratford-upon-Avon, and between Warwick Parkway and Solihull;
On Sunday 21 March, between Birmingham New Street and Redditch, and Birmingham New Street and Droitwich Spa.

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41

Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries

Journalists
Network Rail press office - North West & Central Region
07740 782954
NWCmediarelations@networkrail.co.uk

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.

Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

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