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Tuesday 12 Sep 2017

Upgrade means Tame Bridge Parkway to Rugeley Trent Valley line to close for three Sundays

Region & Route:

| North West & Central

Passengers who travel between Tame Bridge Parkway and Rugeley Trent Valley are being reminded that the railway will be closed for the next three Sundays while Network Rail continues to upgrade the Chase line.

As more and more passengers use the line, the improvements are needed to accommodate the growth and meet future demand.

Network Rail is investing £100m+ to upgrade and electrify the route as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan to provide passengers with better services across Britain.

Once electrified, London Midland’s passengers will benefit from a cleaner, greener, quieter and more reliable railway between Birmingham and Rugeley with faster and more frequent trains.

Buses will replace trains on Sunday 17 and 24 September and Sunday 1 October.

Martin Tiller, Network Rail’s project sponsor said: “This work, part of our Railway Upgrade Plan, will mean passengers travelling between Rugeley and Birmingham via Walsall will have a better, more reliable railway.

"Regular users of the line will have noticed lots of progress on the ground, especially after the 16 day closure last month. The work continues and the Sunday closures have been carefully planned with London Midland to cause the least disruption to the fewest number of people. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these vital upgrades.”

London Midland’s head of Route, Rob Hornsey, said: “Our Chase line customers have shown great understanding as this major upgrade has taken place. The benefits of more frequent trains and extra capacity is just what this line and our passengers need.”

Work that Network Rail will carry out includes:
- installation of further overhead power line structures
- foundations / piling for overhead power line structures
- vegetation management
- track drainage improvements

Currently electric trains can only run as far as Walsall which means London Midland runs diesel trains from Birmingham to Rugeley Trent Valley. Once the electrification work on the Chase line is complete, electric trains will be able to run along the whole of the line from Birmingham New Street to Rugeley Trent Valley.

For travel information visit www.nationalrail.co.uk.