Aerial view of bridge being replaced in Sutton Coldfield - Credit Network Rail Air Operations

£4m bridge replacement works coming this Easter on the Cross City Line

A £4m investment package is coming from Network Rail to conduct replacement works to a railway bridge between Birmingham and Lichfield, a project that will ensure steady and reliable journeys for both freight haulage and passengers on the Cross City line.

The existing bridge will be completely removed, making way for the installation of a new and improved structure. Due to the current bridge weighing 64 tonnes, the engineers will need to utilise a 111-tonne mobile crane to conduct the removal.

To safely conduct the works, the railway lines will need to be closed from Friday 7th April until the early morning of Tuesday 11th April. During this disruptive closure, rail replacement buses will be in operation between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley from Good Friday to Easter Monday.

Throughout the duration of the project, no roads will be closed, but the footpath and railway footbridge running between Sutton College and the Sutton Park line will be temporarily closed.

Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said:

“We know there’s never an ideal time to close the railway, so I’d like to thank people in advance for their patience ahead of this complex work to replace a bridge which carries freight trains over passenger services.

“This major investment has the dual benefit of making sure freight goods can travel by rail smoothly and reliably in future, as well as the thousands of people who travel daily on the important Cross City line below. My advice during the work is to please check National Rail Enquiries in advance and allow more time for your journey over Easter.”

Jonny Wiseman, West Midlands Railway customer experience director, said:

“I'd like to thank our customers for their patience while Network Rail carries out these crucial upgrades to the railway at Sutton Coldfield.

"Rail replacement transport will be in operation on the north side of the Cross City line between Birmingham and Lichfield across the entire Easter weekend, so we are urging passengers to allow more time and plan their journeys carefully."

Preparatory works have been conducted in recent weeks leading up to the project, seeing the erection of a site compound in the nearby Royal Mail delivery office on Station Approach and several of Sutton Coldfield station’s car parking spaces have been occupied by the project team.

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