Bank Holiday rail journeys delayed by engineering work

Rail passengers face disruption to their journeys over the bank holiday weekend due to engineering work impacting CrossCountry routes.

The operator is warning of longer journey times and changes to services, in particular through Birmingham, with HS2-related work closing the line between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway.

A new viaduct is to be installed at Water Orton, Warwickshire, and on Sunday track improvement work will be carried out between Wolverhampton and Stafford, with replacement buses running between Wolverhampton, Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent.

Engineering work elsewhere would also increase demand on services as well as strike action by other operators, CrossCountry said.

"With a range of events and sporting fixtures taking place across the country, the bank holiday weekend is expected to be particularly busy, with thousands of revellers also travelling by train to and from Reading and Leeds Festivals, and to Manchester Village Pride," a spokesperson said.

Mark Anderson, CrossCountry's customer and commercial director, advised passengers to allow extra time for their journeys and check the latest travel information.

"From Saturday 29 until Monday 31 August, journeys through Birmingham New Street will take longer, with some journeys also requiring rail replacement bus services.

"We'd like to thank customers for their patience while this work takes place.

"I'd ask customers to leave more time for their journeys and make sure they don't bring too much luggage - trolleys, in particular, won't be allowed on board CrossCountry services."

Patrick Cawley, director of On Network Works for Network Rail and HS2, said the replacement of Saltley viaduct, which spanned one of the busiest railway corridors in the Midlands, was another important phase of work for the HS2 rail line.

"The existing structure is being rebuilt to make way for Britain's new high-speed railway into Birmingham.

"We'd like to thank passengers for their patience while this work takes place and encourage everyone travelling over the bank holiday weekend to check before they travel."

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