Work is continuing on installing new signalling equipment at Birmingham New Street railway station.

Network Rail say that passengers should check before travelling throughout 2021 as the platforms in use will change.

Platform 11 is now out of use, with platform 12 now back in use again.

At Birmingham New Street most of the equipment in use is around 54 years old and approaching the end of its working life.

New state of the art signalling is being installed to replace the old equipment over the next 18 months.

All of the train operators using the station will be affected including West Midlands Railway, London Northwestern Railway, Avanti West Coast, CrossCountry and Transport for Wales.

Timetables will not be affected, just the platforms the trains will arrive and depart at.

When the works are completed in 2022, £600m will have been invested in modernising the routes from Birmingham New Street to Bromsgrove, Wolverhampton, Coventry and Tamworth.

6.5 miles of cable will be installed with 114 new signals, taking 750,000 hours of work.

Dave Penney, Central route director for Network Rail, said: “While the majority of passengers will be following the government advice to stay at home during this latest national lockdown, there will be some who still need to use the railway to get to work and for essential medical appointments.”

“I want those passengers still relying on the railway for any of the reasons permitted by government to have as smooth a journey as possible while this major signalling upgrade takes place. So, my advice is to always check which platform your train is on as this can change at short notice over the course of the rolling platform closures.”

“This once in a generation overhaul of Birmingham New Street’s signalling equipment, at one of Britain’s most important stations, 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, the 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.”

Passengers can check their journeys on the National Rail website.

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