Network Rail updates

 

Changes to train times Water Orton Saturday 19 - Sunday 27 February 2022

Network Rail is carrying out major track improvement work in the Water Orton area which will affect train services on the routes between: 

• Birmingham New Street to Leicester and stations for Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport
• Cardiff Central to Nottingham
• Scotland, the North East to the South West

The work will deliver a range of long term improvements and forms part of the preparatory work to deliver the HS2 project. Engineers will upgrade the drainage and sewerage connections alongside the railway. In addition to this, bridge construction work will be undertaken on the route between Birmingham New Street and Water Orton.

There is a vast amount of work to be carried out and an amended timetable will operate from Saturday 19 - Sunday 27 February. Trains will be diverted and road transport will also be in operation during this period.

Preliminary work will be taking place on the following weekends:

• Saturday 5 - Sunday 6 February
• Saturday 12 - Sunday 13 February

Further work is planned for each of the weekends in May and from Saturday 20 - Monday 29 August 2022.

Timetable Summary: From 1045 Saturday 19 - Sunday 27 February

Birmingham New Street - Leicester and stations to Peterborough, Cambridge and Stansted Airport

Rail replacement road transport will operate between Coleshill Parkway, Water Orton and Birmingham New Street. 

Cardiff Central - Nottingham

Trains will operate between Coleshill Parkway - Nottingham & Birmingham New Street - Cardiff Central. Rail replacement road transport will operate between Coleshill Parkway and Birmingham New Street. 

Scotland, the North East to the South West

Trains will not call at Tamworth. Journey times will be extended by one hour. 

Passengers are advised to plan ahead, allow extra time and check before they travel.

Road Transport

Replacement road transport will depart from the front of the following stations:

• Birmingham New Street - Smallbrook Queensway outside TK Maxx
• Coleshill Parkway
• Water Orton

HS2 Project

As a brand new railway line, HS2 is the best option for taking the pressure off the existing network. It adds extra capacity where it is needed most. Building HS2 frees up a massive amount of space on the existing railway by placing long distance services on their own pair of tracks. Once HS2 is operating, services can run much closer together, meaning there can be more rush hour trains, helping to relieve overcrowding.

Once the full network is operational we expect HS2 trains to carry over 300,000 passengers a day. HS2 is future proofed by making sure the network can grow with increased demand. 

When complete, HS2 will add greater capacity along the UK's current main North-South rail routes; West Coast, East Coast and Midland main lines. This means more train services across the country, more seats for passengers and fewer delays.