HS2 Bridge Demolition To Disrupt CrossCountry Passengers Over Two Weekends

Passengers using trains through Birmingham are being warned to check before travelling over the next two weekends as HS2-related engineering work affects services between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway.

The disruption is linked to major work in the Saltley and Washwood areas of Birmingham, where HS2 engineers are preparing to remove two structures over the existing railway.

Network Rail is supporting the demolition of Saltley Viaduct and Aston Church Road bridge, both of which cross the railway between Birmingham and Derby. The structures are being replaced so the new high-speed railway can be built underneath.

The work will affect journeys between Birmingham New Street, Water Orton and Coleshill Parkway on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 June, and again on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 June.

Services likely to be affected include routes between:

• Birmingham New Street and Leicester, Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport.

• Cardiff Central and Birmingham New Street to Nottingham.

• Scotland, the North East to Birmingham New Street and the South West.

Rail replacement buses will operate between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway across both weekends while the work is taking place.

Passengers are being advised to plan ahead, allow extra time and check their journeys before setting off, particularly where longer-distance CrossCountry services are involved.

Patrick Cawley, Director of On Network Works for Network Rail and HS2, said:

“Over two weekends in June, HS2 teams will complete vital work to demolish two structures spanning the railway between Birmingham and Water Orton, to make way for the next phase of Britain’s new high-speed railway to be built. I’d like to thank passengers for their patience and remind them to check before they travel with National Rail Enquiries or CrossCountry.”

Ben Simkin, CrossCountry’s Regional Director covering the East Midlands, said:

“We’re sorry for the disruption caused for CrossCountry customers during this essential engineering work. Rail replacement bus services will be in operation on parts of some CrossCountry services, and other journeys will take longer over the weekends affected. I’d ask those travelling over these weekends in June to check their journey and leave more time to get to where they need to be. We’d like to thank our customers for their patience while this important work takes place to support the future of the rail network.”

Image: Network Rail