Train services next week between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley on the Cross City line will be severely disrupted due to major engineering work.

From Tuesday, 2 to Friday, 5 April engineers will be carrying out vital track and signalling work on the line, and the sections of the A38 (M) Tame Valley Viaduct that crosses the line will be strengthened and refurbished.

Whilst the line is closed, a rail replacement bus service will be in operation.

Birmingham City Council’s appointed contractor VolkerFitzpatrick will be carrying out work on the A38 (M) Tame Valley Viaduct as part of a 4½ year scheme to strengthen the viaduct’s main steel boxes, grit blasting, painting the steel beams and repairing the concrete.

It is necessary to close the line to enable access for the scaffolding and equipment that needs to be placed on the tracks to carry out the work.

Other work to be carried out during the closure includes:

• Maintenance of the overhead lines so that they can cope with for anticipated hot summer weather.
• Testing and replacing signalling and points cables between Wylde Green and Shenstone stations.
• Moving a signal at Lichfield Trent Valley.

As well as the engineering work requiring the closure of part of the Cross City Line, there is likely to be more widespread disruption because of industrial action by ASLEF.

Members of the union who are train drivers will take strike action on Friday, 5 April, and have imposed an overtime ban from Thursday, 4 to Saturday, 6 April, and on Monday, 8 and Tuesday, 9 April. That may disrupt services at short notice, and intending passengers should check before they travel by clicking here.

Major work is also taking place on the West Coast Main Line over the Easter bank holiday weekend, for which Network Rail has issued ‘Travel either side’ advice.

Within the next few months, the Cross City Line will benefit from the introduction of a fleet of new trains that have already been introduced elsewhere in the West Midlands.

I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while the railway is closed to allow Birmingham City Council to complete vital upgrades to a road which runs above the railway. At the same time we’ll be completing our own upgrades on the route to help make journeys more reliable for passengers.

We’re working with our partners at West Midlands Railway to keep passengers moving during the closure of the line and I’d urge passengers to check www.nationalrail.co.uk before they travel.

Steven Ireland, head of customer service for Network Rail’s Central route

These essential track upgrades will ensure more reliable journeys for passengers travelling between Lichfield Trent Valley and Birmingham New Street.

I would also advise customers to plan ahead as there is likely to be significant disruption between Thursday 4 and Saturday 6 April and on Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 April as industrial action is taking place.

Jonny Wiseman, West Midlands Railway customer experience director