The Trent Valley Line Upgrades programme has now been completed with railway services opening today, Monday the 24th of July. The major upgrade project has come as part of an £85 million investment and has seen essential work completed on the West Coast main line through Staffordshire, bringing improved railway journeys in the West Midlands for both passengers and freight services.

The vast project has seen a nine-day closure of the railway whilst Network Rail carried out:

• Replacement of 2,000 metres of track
• 3,000 new railway sleepers
• Laying 2,500 tonnes of ballast for Colwich Junction
• Installation of new signalling equipment in the Trent Valley area.

Impressive time-lapse footage has captured the feat of work by HS2 which saw a massive new bridge structure moved into place under the West Coast main line in Lichfield. The work to build the structure was carried out by HS2 contractor Balfour Beatty VINCI and involved around 300 people. The building of the bridge has taken 6 months and took place at the side of the railway, once completed the massive 56m long and 19m wide structure was moved into position on the back of a huge transporter vehicle.

The new bridge will carry the existing railway southeast of Lichfield Trent Valley station and will eventually see HS2 trains travel beneath the West Coast main line supporting journeys between London, the Midlands and the North alongside creating space on the current rail network for an increase in local services and freight.

The interchange with the Cross City Line and Lichfield Trent Valley station has seen a six-month closure get underway from Saturday the 15th of July which will allow the demolition of platform three ahead of its full rebuild. Drone footage has also been released which reveals a huge crane lifting a temporary footbridge in place in order to keep platforms 1 and 2 accessible by lift whilst the work is completed.

The six-month closure means that until the 27th of December, no trains will operate either to or from Lichfield Trent Valley using the Cross City line. Rail replacement buses will be working in order to connect passengers between Lichfield Trent Valley and Lichfield City.

Passengers are also advised of work taking place on Sunday the 30th of July which will bring disruption, those travelling should check travel plans ahead via www.nationalrail.co.uk before making a journey.

Dave Penney, Network Rail passenger director for the North West and Central region, said:

“We know this work has meant longer journeys for passengers travelling over the school summer holidays, so I’d like to thank everyone impacted for bearing with us while we carried essential upgrades.”

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