Disruption on CrossCountry services during Bank Holiday

Refurbished CrossCountry Voyager train at Leeds station. <i>(Image: supplied)</i>
Refurbished CrossCountry Voyager train at Leeds station. (Image: supplied)
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Rail passengers are being warned to expect major disruption over the bank holiday weekend due to engineering works.

CrossCountry services will be heavily affected, with delays and changes to routes expected between Saturday, August 29 and Monday, August 31, primarily through Birmingham.

The train firm runs daily services from Cornwall to Plymouth, Exeter, Bristol and Birmingham.

The disruption is due to HS2-related works that will close the line between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway as part of a project to install a new viaduct near Water Orton.

Mark Anderson, customer and commercial director at CrossCountry, said: "This essential engineering work will help keep the railway resilient and ready for the future, ensuring passengers can continue to enjoy smooth and reliable journeys.

"From Saturday, August 29 until Monday, August 31, 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."

The viaduct forms part of wider improvements for the HS2 rail line and will also benefit pedestrians and cyclists.

In addition to the HS2 works, track improvements between Wolverhampton and Stafford on Sunday will require replacement bus services between Wolverhampton, Stafford and Stoke-on-Trent.

Passengers are being advised to check before travelling, as additional engineering works elsewhere and strike action on other operators are likely to further reduce services and increase demand on alternative routes.

The bank holiday weekend is expected to be particularly busy, with major events including Reading and Leeds Festivals and Manchester Village Pride.

Patrick Cawley, director of on-network works for Network Rail and HS2, said: "This August bank holiday, HS2 teams will carry out another important phase of work to replace Saltley Viaduct, a structure which spans one of the busiest railway corridors in the Midlands.

"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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