Network Rail is warning passengers that the Cross City line between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley will close for nine days this summer.

Trains will run between Lichfield and Birmingham on the north side of the Cross City line between Saturday 26 July and Sunday 3 August inclusive. The line will reopen with its regular timetable on Monday 4 August.

There will also be disruption to train services between Birmingham and Tame Bridge Parkway.

The southern section of the Cross City line will not be affected, and will continue to run normally between Birmingham New Street and Redditch/Bromsgrove.

The nine-day closure will allow engineers to build and install a 16.5 metre-wide steel section of a new viaduct.

The viaduct will carry HS2 services into the new Curzon Street station. The structure will go over the existing Victorian brick viaduct that connects the route from Duddeston to Birmingham New Street.

The new viaduct, which Network Rail describes as “striking”, is one of a series of new viaducts in a one-mile stretch carrying high-speed trains into Birmingham.

It will be the tallest of these viaducts, standing at a height of twenty-four metres. The structure has a curved design and will include a light installation.

Network Rail calls this “unique”, and predicts that it is “set to become a new landmark on the city’s skyline”.

Network Rail is encouraging passengers to plan their journeys in advance of the nine-day closure. They can do so on the National Rail or West Midlands Railway websites.

“Everything has been done to plan this work to cause the least disruption to the fewest number of people. There is never a good time for closures like this and I am sorry for the inconvenience, but school holidays and summer breaks means passenger numbers are lower at this time of year.

“I understand that lots of journeys will be affected, which is why we are telling people as early as possible so they can plan ahead. Passengers should check with West Midlands Railway and National Rail Enquiries for travel information. Thank you to everyone for their patience while this vital work takes place.”

Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director