Birmingham New Street, one of the UK's busiest train stations, will close over Christmas because of engineering works. Network Rail has confirmed the station will shut on Christmas Eve until Tuesday, December 29, as part of a three-year scheme replacing overhead power supplies. New track and points are also being installed at Soho nearby.
Confirmation came on Friday (October 16) as the railway infrastructure manager detailed its works for the festive season. Network Rail said most lines will be open, with alternatives for travellers where services are affected. The state-owned body urged passengers to plan their journeys and check before travelling.
£152m investment across three stations
The works are part of a £152million investment, including projects at London Paddington, Birmingham New Street and Huddersfield. Network Rail said engineers plan to carry out the work between Christmas Day and New Year when passenger numbers are at their lowest.
Trains will not run on most routes in England on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Journey planners, including National Rail, are now up to date with travel information up to January 4.
Network Rail apologises for disruption
Network Rail's Group Director, System Operator, Anit Chandarana, said: "Christmas is a time when many people want to be with family and friends, and most of the railway will be open to help them get there.
"We have worked with train operators to keep services running wherever we can on the busiest travel days and to provide alternative journey options where work affects the usual route. We are sorry that some passengers will face disruption."
London Paddington and other affected routes
London Paddington will close from Christmas Day while engineers work on improvements across the Thames Valley on the main line into the rail hub. Work includes replacing Dolphin Junction near Slough, upgrading overhead line equipment and installing new track. Paddington station is also in for a deep clean.
Services should return from New Year's Eve, with the Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express resuming to and from Paddington. Due to the scale of work at Dolphin Junction, Great Western Railway services won't access Paddington until Monday, January 4. Instead, long-distance GWR services will start and finish at Reading, with some services diverting to London Euston. Paddington station will remain open for customers to use the loos and other facilities.
Birmingham New Street will close on Christmas Eve through to the start of service on Tuesday, December 29. The station itself will stay open for passengers to use toilets and other facilities.
The Great Eastern Main Line will close for 10 days from Christmas Day for track replacement work at Forest Gate, east London, to replace worn-out rails and sleepers. No Greater Anglia or Elizabeth line trains will run through the area until the early hours of Monday, January 4.
Lines through Redhill will close from December 20 for new track and points to be laid in the station area. Network Rail said points can cause delays as they get older and harder to maintain, so replacing them is key to improving punctuality. Services to Brighton and Gatwick Airport will run, but buses will replace trains from Reigate and intermediate stations from Earlswood to Purley on the Brighton Main Line. The work is planned to end in the early hours of Monday, January 4.
A revamp at Huddersfield Station enters its final phase this Christmas, with disruption expected in the area from Christmas Day until the morning of February 1. The work aims to improve services in West Yorkshire and the region, including electrifying the railway and increasing capacity for faster, quieter trains across the north.
