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Monday 25 Mar 2024

Passengers advised about Easter holiday track and signalling upgrades on the Cross City line

Region & Route:

North West & Central

| North West & Central: Central

Rail passengers travelling between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley on the Cross City line are being urged to plan their journeys over the Easter holidays while vital track and signalling work takes place.

Network Rail is investing over £1million to make journeys on the Cross City line more reliable for passengers.

The Cross City line is being closed between Birmingham and Lichfield to enable Birmingham City Council’s appointed contractor VolkerFitzpatrick to carry out strengthening and refurbishment of the sections of the A38 (M) Tame Valley Viaduct which span over the railway lines. Their work, which forms part of a 4.5 year scheme will involve strengthening of the viaduct’s main steel boxes, grit blasting, painting the steel beams and concrete repairs. The railway needs to be closed to allow access for scaffolding and equipment to be placed on the tracks to carry out this work.

During the four-day closure, Network Rail is using the opportunity to carry out the following track and signalling improvements to the Cross City line:

• Maintenance work to the overhead lines across the route in preparation for hot weather this summer
• Testing and replacing signalling and points cables between Wylde Green and Shenstone stations
• Moving a railway signal at Lichfield Trent Valley in preparation for newer and more modern train services coming later this year

For passengers the work will mean buses replace all West Midlands Railway services on the route between Lichfield Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street from Tuesday 2 April to Friday 5 April.

Steven Ireland, head of customer service for Network Rail's Central route, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while the railway is closed to allow Birmingham City Council to complete vital upgrades to a road which runs above the railway. At the same time we’ll be completing our own upgrades on the route to help make journeys more reliable for passengers.

“We’re working with our partners at West Midlands Railway to keep passengers moving during the closure of the line and I’d urge passengers to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before they travel.”

Jonny Wiseman, West Midlands Railway customer experience director, said: “These essential track upgrades will ensure more reliable journeys for passengers travelling between Lichfield Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street.

“I would also advise customers to plan ahead as there is likely to be significant disruption between Thursday 4 and Saturday 6 April and on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 April as industrial action is taking place.”

ASLEF, the trade union representing train drivers, has announced strike action on Friday 5 April, and an overtime ban from Thursday 4 to Saturday 6 April and from Monday 8 to Tuesday 9 April. Industrial action is likely to cause short notice disruption to services and passengers are advised to check before they travel and plan their journey at www.nationalrail.co.uk

Passengers are also being advised about major work taking place on the West Coast Main Line over the Easter bank holiday weekend: ‘Travel either side’ advice for West Coast Main Line passengers this Easter bank holiday (networkrailmediacentre.co.uk)