A £1.4m investment to improve the West Coast main line between Coventry and Birmingham International in the West Midlands is now complete.

The railway reopened yesterday, Monday, 10th October, and the upgrade provides better reliability for both passengers and freight. The upgrade involved a two-day closure of the railway line near Berkswell between Coventry and Birmingham, during which 650 metres of railway tracks were replaced through Beechwood tunnel.

This included replacing the rails, sleepers, and ballast to ensure trains can continue to travel through the tunnel at the full line speed of 110mph.

The work involved considerable disruption to passengers, for which Network Rail has expressed its thanks to passengers for their patience during the essential investment.

With the continuing upgrade of the railways, passengers are advised that they should always plan their journeys in good time and check before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk.

Neil Gaskin, route programme director for Network Rail’s Central route, said: “We know this work has meant longer journeys for passengers travelling over the weekend, so I’d like to thank everyone impacted for bearing with us while we carried out this essential work.

“We worked closely with train operators to keep people on the move despite ongoing industrial action, and now work is complete this vital section of the West Coast main line will continue to deliver safe, reliable journeys for passenger and freight services.”

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director for West Midlands Trains, said: “I would like to thank our customers for their patience while these important upgrades were carried out.

“This section of railway between Birmingham and Coventry is one of the busiest in the West Midlands which makes it all the more important that the tracks are kept in good order.”