Rail passengers are being urged to check before travelling due to delays while firefighters deal with a major fire next to the railway line in Wolverhampton.

Network Rail has been forced

to close the railway and stop running trains when the fire started at 9pm yesterday, Monday 5th December.

Trains are still suspended on the Stour Valley Line between Wolverhampton, Sandwell & Dudley and Birmingham.

This is because the main wall of the warehouse is now at risk of collapsing onto the tracks.

Train operators are diverting trains between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street but means the following stations are closed:

• Coseley
• Tipton
• Dudley Port
• Sandwell and Dudley
• Smethwick Galton Bridge
• Smethwick Rolfe Street

Rail replacement buses are also running between Crewe and Liverpool South Parkway as well as Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury.

Martin Colmey, Network Rail’s Central route operations director, said: “We’re sorry to passengers impacted by the fire next to the railway and we’re working hard to help the fire service establish the extent of the damage locally so trains can run again.

“I’d please ask people planning on travelling on the West Coast main line through Wolverhampton to check National Rail Enquiries before they set off on their journey.”