Major upgrades to the signalling on the West Coast main line between Rugby and Stafford have been completed and the line fully reopened for service yesterday, Tuesday, 23 January.

The project to upgrade the signalling has been in progress since 2017.

During a four-day closure of the line last weekend Network Rail completed the outstanding tasks. These included commissioning 39 signals and 124 axle counters that detect if a section of track is clear or unoccupied, and combined and transferred the Colwich and Trent Valley workstations to the Rugby Rail Operating Centre.

Although the line was closed between Rugby and Stafford, the final work take place between Rugeley and Colwich. The closure affected service operated by Avanti West Coast, London Northwestern, and West Midlands Railway.

The works were all part of an £85 million investment in this important rail route, and will improve the reliability of services through the West Midlands, and contribute to improvement in future rail journeys for passengers and freight services on the line.

During the work, Avanti West Coast services were diverted and ran to an amended timetable, with longer journey times to and from London Euston whilst services to and from Liverpool only operated every two hours, and only between between Crewe.

London Northwestern Railway services between Crewe and London Euston services only ran between Rugby and London Euston, and buses replaced West Midlands Railway services between Walsall and Rugeley Trent Valley.

James Dean, Network Rail route director for the West Coast South 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 essential upgrades.

“We worked closely with train operators to keep people on the move, 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.”