The Cross City North line between Lichfield and Birmingham is now fully reopened following a seven-day closure for essential maintenance and upgrades.
During the closure, Network Rail teams worked tirelessly around the clock to carry out a range of improvements. These included earthwork repairs, track maintenance, and extensive vegetation clearance—all aimed at enhancing safety and reliability for passengers traveling through the area.
In parallel, Birmingham City Council continued its vital strengthening and refurbishment of the A38(M) Tame Valley Viaduct, which runs directly above the railway near Aston station.
Originally, the closure was scheduled to facilitate the installation of a new HS2 viaduct. While that installation has been postponed to a later date, the opportunity was used to complete other critical works while the line was out of service.
Among the key improvements, engineers tackled a 10-metre-high sandstone cutting near Lichfield. Loose blocks and trees were removed to prevent ‘root jacking’—a process where tree roots destabilize the rock face, increasing the risk of rockfalls onto the track below.
These upgrades mark a significant step in ensuring the long-term safety and reliability of the Cross City line, benefiting both commuters and the wider rail network.
Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “This essential maintenance between Birmingham and Lichfield will help to make journeys safer and more reliable. It was carefully planned to cause the least disruption and we completed a huge amount of different improvements to make the most of the line being closed. We know there is never a good time for any closure, and I'd like to thank passengers for their patience over the last seven days."
Jonny Wiseman, West Midlands Railway customer experience director, said: “We are grateful for our passengers’ patience while important engineering works were carried out over the past week. We’re pleased the line has now reopened as planned and our normal timetable is now back in operation.”
Image and video credit: Network Rail
