Press release -
Temporary end of the line in Lichfield for Cross City passengers
Rail passengers are being advised about a six-month long project to completely rebuild platform 3 at Lichfield Trent Valley station to improve future journeys.
Platform 3 is the last stop on the Cross City line directly above platforms 1 and 2 on the West Coast main line.
Network Rail is investing £5.8m to improve the railway interchange, making journeys much more reliable for passengers using both routes in future.
The work will at first see the old structure taken down over nine-days in July, with a modern, stronger platform reinstated six months later*.
It means that from Saturday 15 July, Cross City line trains will not run to Lichfield Trent Valley until Wednesday 27 December, with a rail replacement shuttle bus keeping passengers connected to the West Coast main line link**.
Between Saturday 15 and Sunday 23 July, the old platform structure will be demolished during a full closure of the West Coast main line below. Cross City line services will start/terminate at Blake Street during this time.
Over the nine days, a temporary footbridge will also be built so people can still use the lifts and stairs to get between platforms 1 and 2 for the duration of the six-month project.
During the West Coast main line closure, passengers will be kept on the move with rail replacement buses and are advised to plan their journeys in advance by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk.
From Monday 24 July, the West Coast main line will reopen and services will continue to call at platforms 1 and 2 as usual. Then until December 27 the end of the Cross City line will be Lichfield City station.
Cathleen Meehan, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: “We know that replacing platform 3 over six months will be disruptive for Cross City line passengers and I’d like to thank people in advance for their patience.
“The major challenge here is the platform crosses over one of the busiest mixed-use railways in Europe, which nearly never closes. Our team has worked hard to carefully plan the work so it causes the least disruption to both rail routes and secures the important interchange between the Cross City and West Coast main lines for the future. As always, we’d urge people to familiarise themselves with how their journeys could be different between July and December by visiting National Rail Enquiries in advance of the work starting.”
Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway said: “I would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding while Network Rail is carrying out essential structural improvements to platform 3 at Lichfield Trent Valley. The work is vital for keeping the station safe for passengers and colleagues, which is our number one priority.
“A full rail replacement shuttle will be in operation between Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley throughout the work and thanks to the installation of a temporary footbridge, platforms 1 and 2 will remain accessible as usual.”
Between now and August, partial and full closures of Burton Old Road car park will also be needed for the project to take place.
These include:
· 5 June – 7 July - Approximately a third of the car park will be closed
· 8 July – 22 July - The car park will be fully closed (no foot access to platform 2 via car park, please cross from platform 1 via platform 3)
· 23 July – 11 August - Approximately a third of the car park will be closed
Passengers are advised to make other parking arrangements during this period. No road closures are planned as part of the work.
Notes to Editors
*The West Coast main line is one of Europe’s busiest mixed-use passenger and freight railway lines and is in operation day and night. Complete closures of the major rail artery are complex and hugely disruptive so happen rarely. To reduce the impact on passengers, freight customers and the wider economy, the decision has been made to close the line for nine days in July for the demolition work to take place, then wait until the next best time to close the railway for multiple consecutive days again, which is during the traditional Christmas railway shutdown between 24-27 December 2023.
**Cross City line bus replacements in detail
- 15 July – 23 July: no train services to/from Lichfield Trent Valley and Lichfield City whilst platform 3 is removed and the temporary footbridge installed. Rail replacement buses will run to/from Lichfield Trent Valley and Blake Street, where the train service will run from/ terminate.
- 24 July - 27 December: no passenger trains will run to/ from Lichfield Trent Valley on the Cross City line. Rail replacement buses will be available to transport passengers between Lichfield Trent Valley and Lichfield City
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About West Midlands Trains
For further information on this release, email press.office@wmtrains.co.uk
West Midlands Trains operates both West Midlands Railway and London Northwestern Railway services.
- London Northwestern Railway services operate between Liverpool and Birmingham, and on the West Coast Main Line to and from London Euston.
- West Midlands Railway services operate to destinations across the West Midlands via Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.
For more information on these services visit westmidlandsrailway.co.uk or londonnorthwesternrailway.co.uk
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