Train delays over Easter bank holiday weekend as flyover work to start
Major improvements to make railways quicker and more reliable in the West Midlands and Staffordshire will take place over Easter, with warnings issued of delays.
Work as part of Network Rail's £40billion 'Railway Upgrade Plan' will start over the Bank Holiday and last until Easter Monday.
A £250,000,000 upgrade of the railway between Stafford and Crewe will see a new flyover open for trains at Norton Bridge - easing congestion and removing one of the last bottlenecks on the West Coast main line.
A major junction between Birmingham and Wolverhampton will reduce the number of trains travelling between the two cities.
Network Rail bosses are warning passengers to check for delays before they travel over Easter due to the work taking place.
Martin Frobisher, route managing director for Network Rail, said: "We are advising passengers to check before they travel over the Easter bank holiday and in some locations after that, as we make a big investment to provide passengers with a better railway.
"At Stafford, our orange army will be working day and night to link the new flyover – which will carry trains between Birmingham and Manchester over the West Coast main line at Norton Bridge – to the rail network. This will remove one of the last major bottlenecks on the route and to help deliver the capacity to run more freight and passenger services.
"The upgrade between Birmingham and Wolverhampton is essential to maintain a reliable infrastructure and involves a significant amount of work.
"It has been carefully planned to be completed as safely and quickly as possible.
"I appreciate there will be some disruption as a result of this work and I'd like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out this investment to provide a better railway."
Steven Fisher, head of regional services at London Midland, added: "These projects will make train travel simpler and provides much needed capacity. They will make it easier for trains from London, the midlands and the north west to pass through the area meaning passengers can expect more reliable journeys."
The upgrade at Norton Bridge, near Stafford, will help reduce congestion and improve capacity, along one of Europe's busiest routes.
London Midland, CrossCountry and Virgin services through the Stafford area will be affected from the last trains on March to the first trains on March 29.
The work between Birmingham and Wolverhampton will last until March 30.
Passengers can check for delays with their train operator or by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk
