00:00A full shutdown is coming to one of the region's busiest commuter routes.
00:05No trains will run between Birmingham New Street and Litchfield Trent Valley for seven days,
00:10from Monday 28th July to Sunday 3rd August.
00:14The closure was originally tied to HHS2 Works, but with that project delayed,
00:20engineers are pressing ahead with earthworks, drainage repairs, track upgrades and vegetation clearance
00:26along the Cross City North Line.
00:28Above ground, Birmingham City Council is also using the window to reinforce the aging Time Valley Viaduct.
00:36The work is being carried out at the same time to avoid closures later.
00:41South of New Street, services to Redditch and Bromsgrove will still run,
00:45but the northern section will be entirely shut.
00:49Replacement buzzes will run between New Street and both Litchfield and Timebridge Parkway.
00:54Trains to Rugeley-Trent Valley will be diverted through Aston, adding extra time to the journey.
01:01Passengers are being told to plan ahead.
01:03Network Rail says the closure was deliberately scheduled during the school holidays when footfall is lower,
01:09but with summer events and family travel, there's still potential for pressure on the system.
01:15Rail bosses have apologised for the disruption and urged commuters to allow more time.
01:20Some journeys could take up to half an hour longer.
01:24It's part of a wider push to maintain rail infrastructure before problems escalate,
01:30aiming to keep the network safe and reliable long term.
01:33But for passengers this summer, it's yet another reminder of how fragile our transport systems have become.
01:40When one stretch of track shuts, everything slows down.
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