Network Rail is starting six months of work to rebuild Lichfield Trent Valley station's platform 3.
The platform is the last stop on the Cross City line, and is directly above platforms 1 and 2 on the West Coast main line. Network Rail is spending £5.8m on improving the interchange between the two railway lines.
Network Rail announced the work last month. Starting this Saturday (15 July), workers will spend nine days taking down the old structure. This work takes place while the West Coast mainline is closed. In six months' time, a new, stronger platform will replace it.
As a result, Cross City line trains will terminate and start at Blake Street station and not run to Lichfield Trent Valley from Saturday 15 July until Wednesday 27 December. A shuttle bus service will run in place of the train service.
The nine days' work will also include the erection of a temporary footbridge, so that passengers will still be able use the lifts and stairs to get between platforms 1 and 2 for the duration of the six-month project.
Buses will replace trains during the West Coast main line closure, and passengers can plan their journeys in advance on the national rail website.
The West Coast main line will reopen on Monday 24 July, and services will continue to call at platforms 1 and 2 as usual. Then until December 27 the end of the Cross City line will be Lichfield City station.
During July and August, Burton Old Road car park will close either fully or partially due to the project. Closure dates include:
- 8 – 22 July: car park fully closed (no foot access to platform 2 via car park; please cross from platform 1 via platform 3)
- 23 July – 11 August: around one third of the car park closed.
Network Rail is asking passengers to make other parking arrangements during this time. No roads are planned to close as part of the work.
Cathleen Meehan, scheme project manager for Network Rail, said: “We know that replacing platform 3 over six months will be disruptive for Cross City line passengers and I'd like to thank people in advance for their patience.
“The major challenge here is the platform crosses over one of the busiest mixed-use railways in Europe, which nearly never closes. Our team has worked hard to carefully plan the work so it causes the least disruption to both rail routes and secures the important interchange between the Cross City and West Coast main lines for the future. As always, we'd urge people to familiarise themselves with how their journeys could be different between July and December by visiting National Rail Enquiries in advance of the work starting.”
Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director at West Midlands Railway said: “I would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding while Network Rail is carrying out essential structural improvements to platform 3 at Lichfield Trent Valley. The work is vital for keeping the station safe for passengers and colleagues, which is our number one priority.
“A full rail replacement shuttle will be in operation between Lichfield City and Lichfield Trent Valley throughout the work and thanks to the installation of a temporary footbridge, platforms 1 and 2 will remain accessible as usual.”
Why not build a 4th platform as well rebuilding platform 3 and new sidings for West Midlands Railway Class 730 trains to use when coming from Reddish and Bromsgrove on the Cross-City Line.