Passengers who use Birmingham New Street are being urged to check service information in 2021 whilst major work takes place.
From 24 January 2021, platforms will be closed as work continues to replace the signalling equipment at the station.
Platform 12 will be closed first, with the programme of closures taking place up until June 2022.
West Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales will all be affected, but a full timetable will continue to operate throughout.
Trains will arrive and depart from different platforms to usual depending on which is closed at the time.
The equipment at Birmingham New Street is around 54 years old and is now reaching the end of its working life.
Dave Penney, Central route director for Network Rail, said: “We are putting passengers first throughout Birmingham New Street’s signalling upgrade by running a full timetable to keep trains moving as normal. But I’d urge anyone travelling, to make their journeys as smooth as possible, to always check which platform their train is on.
“This is a major investment in one of Britain’s most important stations and it has been carefully planned to minimise disruption. Once complete, the West Midlands will have large areas using the newest and best signalling anywhere in Britain which will help provide a safe, reliable and high performing railway for decades to come.”
Alex Warner, chairperson of the Grand Rail Collaboration, representing train operators which use Birmingham New Street, said: “A key part of delivering for passengers is for train services to be reliable and with capacity for growth. A modern, state-of-the-art signalling system is essential in delivering this.
“This investment is vital for the long-term future of the railway in the West Midlands. In the short-term, the most important thing this to manage the impact and the fact no trains will be cancelled is great news for passengers.”
Malcolm Holmes, executive director for West Midlands Rail Executive, said: “Birmingham New Street is at the centre of the West Midlands rail network and it needs the best technology to keep passengers and trains safely moving for many years to come. The industry has worked together to run a full timetable throughout this work, minimising disruption. The outcome will be a better, more reliable railway for the region.”
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Responses
Maybe network rail or whoever is in charge could actually tell us about the actual signalling alteration. Not about effects on passengers getting on trains.
Tell us about the infrastructure components. The efect on train headways track layout changed. Where is it controlled from and by what system. How many changes stageworks. Etc.
Maybe close Coventry railway station and to redevelop the station including the building and platforms and rebuild the station with extra platforms and new station building for Coventry.