Work to repair platform 3 at Lichfield Trent Valley station has been completed and train services from the station have returned to normal.
Platform 3 is the high-level platform at the station and had been closed for several weeks on safety grounds. However, Network Rail has now installed a temporary support structure, which has enabled the platform to reopen, and Cross City line services resumed calling at the station from Sunday, 5th June.
The completion of the work also means passenger access between Platforms 1 and 2 for West Coast Main Line services has been restored.
During the work, the platform was temporarily closed for safety reasons, which meant that for several weeks West Midland Railway's Cross City line trains were unable to call. To maintain a service for passengers, West Midlands Railway ran a regular shuttle bus between Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley stations. Lichfield City is situated in the city centre, and is the northern terminus of West Midlands Railway's Cross-City Line, whilst Lichfield Trent Valley is on the outskirts of the city and is served by London Northwestern Railway services.
Denise Wetton, Central route managing director, said:
“This was a challenging project which, due to the position of the platform, involved the overnight closure of part of the busy West Coast Main Line.
“Passenger safety must always come first and I am pleased this work has been completed and services at Lichfield Trent Valley have returned to normal once again.”
Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director for West Midlands Trains, said: “I would like to thank our passengers for their patience while this important safety work was completed at Lichfield Trent Valley.
“I appreciate the loss of the direct walking route between platforms was a major inconvenience and I would like to thank Network Rail for carrying out these repairs so quickly to get the station functioning again.”
