Part of Cross City line blocked with replacement buses in place
A major rail route in Birmingham[1] has been closed down due to a fault on the line. The Cross City line’s northern stretch from Birmingham New Street[2] to Erdington[3], Sutton Coldfield[4] and Lichfield[5] is currently blocked due to a signalling failure.
West Midlands Railway[6] confirmed the problem around 1pm on Sunday (April 16). The firm Tweeted: “Problems reported. Delays to services between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley, due to a fault with the signalling system between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley.
“The Cross City north line is currently blocked in both directions following a loss of signalling on the route. Network Rail is investigating and more information will follow shortly.”
When asked when the problem would be resolved, the rail company said: “We’re waiting on Network Rail to identify the root cause and complete the necessary repairs, apologies in the meantime.” The firm then said: “Network Rail Engineers are on site investigating the loss of signalling.”
Anyone with a rail ticket between Birmingham city centre[8] and Sutton Coldfield has been told they can use it on a National Express West Midlands bus service. And anyone heading to Lichfield can go via Tamworth. It said: “Journeys between Birmingham and Lichfield (and vice versa) can also be undertaken via Tamworth or Stafford during the current disruption.”
West Midlands Railway added: “We have also requested road transport to serve stations between Sutton Coldfield and Lichfield Trent Valley, in both directions.”
The issue has come a week after the same stretch of railway was closed over the Easter weekend, for an essential £4 million bridge upgrade[9] in Sutton Coldfield on the line which takes freight traffic.
Stay up to date with the very latest from the city our Birmingham News[10] Email Updates.
M6 travel warning as lorry crash causes hour-long delays in both directions[11]
M6 northbound closed live updates as air ambulance scrambled to lorry crash[12]
Pedestrian injured in hit-and-run crash as busy road shut off[13]
Masked thugs batter cyclist with metal bar and threaten to stab him[14]
Hunt to find machete-wielding carjackers as man stabbed in street[15]
References
- ^ Birmingham (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham New Street (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Erdington (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Sutton Coldfield (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Lichfield (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ West Midlands Railway (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Warning to all passengers on Cross City Line amid rise in robberies (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham city centre (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ essential £4 million bridge upgrade (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Birmingham News (data.reachplc.com)
- ^ M6 travel warning as lorry crash causes hour-long delays in both directions (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ M6 northbound closed live updates as air ambulance scrambled to lorry crash (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Pedestrian injured in hit-and-run crash as busy road shut off (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Masked thugs batter cyclist with metal bar and threaten to stab him (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
- ^ Hunt to find machete-wielding carjackers as man stabbed in street (www.birminghammail.co.uk)