Rail disruption on Birmingham Cross City Line in May, including King Charles coronation bank holiday weekend

There will be rail disruption on the Cross City line during three weekends, including the Coronation weekend, in May in Birmingham, Network Rail has announced.

The rail owner and infrastructure managers are carrying out major upgrades between Barnt Green and Longbridge over three weekends on the Cross City line south.

In the long-term, Network Rail says this work will improve passengers’ journeys by preventing heavy rainfall flooding tracks and causing delays.

However, this might affect those planning to use the Cross City line to travel between Longbridge and Barnt Green during the first three weekends May.

Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “These drainage improvements to the Cross City line will mean better, smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers and freight in future.

“However, upgrading drainage systems like this means we have no choice but to close sections of railway to get to the drains beneath the tracks.

“I’d urge anyone wanting to travel at weekends in May – in particular over the weekend of the King’s Coronation - to please check National Rail Enquiries to plan their journeys. I’d also like to thank passengers in advance for their patience.”

What are the changes to the Cross City Line

For the essential work to take place, some sections of the Cross City line between Birmingham and Redditch/Bromsgrove will need to close. To keep passengers on the move rail replacement buses will be in operation throughout the railway improvements.

Trains between Birmingham New Street and Bromsgrove / Redditch will run as far as Longbridge. A rail replacement bus service will operate between Longbridge and Bromsgrove / Droitwich Spa and between Longbridge and Redditch.

Services between Birmingham New Street and Worcester Shrub Hill / Great Malvern / Hereford will start and finish at Birmingham Snow Hill - instead of Birmingham New Street - and will not call at University or Bromsgrove.

There will also be no CrossCountry services between Cheltenham Spa and Birmingham New Street across the three weekends of work.

Rail upgrade weekend schedule

Network Rail is carrying out major drainage upgrades between Barnt Green and Longbridge over three weekends on:

• Saturday 6 and Sunday 7
• Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 and,
• Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 May

Passengers are being advised to plan their journeys ahead of the essential railway improvements by visiting National Rail’s website.

What Cross Country said

Nick Chadwick, CrossCountry’s regional managing director for West Midlands & North West, said:“It’s important that Network Rail can carry out these vital drainage improvements so that we can continue to deliver comfortable and reliable journeys for our passengers travelling between Birmingham and Cheltenham and beyond.

“I’d advise anybody planning to travel with us over these weekends in May to plan their journey and leave extra time to get to their destination, and I want to thank customers in advance for their patience while this work takes place.”

What West Midlands Railway said

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway, said: “The track upgrades by Network Rail will reduce flooding risks and ensure more reliable journeys for our passengers travelling on the Cross City line.

“I advise passengers to check their journeys and plan ahead as services travelling south on the Cross City line will be affected for three weekends in May.”