Network Rail confirms engineering work this Christmas – ‘check your journey’

One of the UK’s busiest train stations will close over Christmas because of engineering works. Network Rail has confirmed that Birmingham New Street will shut on Christmas Eve until Tuesday, December 29. It is part of a three-year scheme replacing overhead power supplies. New track and points are also being put in place at Soho nearby. Confirmation came on Friday (October 16) as the railway infrastructure manager detailed works this festive season.

Network Rail said most lines will be open, with alternatives for travellers where services are affected. The state-owned body urged Brits to plan their journeys and check before travelling.

It said the works are part of a £152million investment, including work at London Paddington, Birmingham New Street and Huddersfield. Network Rail said engineers plan work to happen between Christmas Day and New Year when passenger numbers are at their lowest.

Trains will not run on most routes in England on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Journey planners, including National Rail, are now up to date with travel information up to January 4.

Network Rail’s Group Director, System Operator, Anit Chandarana, said: “Christmas is a time when many people want to be with family and friends, and most of the railway will be open to help them get there.

“We have worked with train operators to keep services running wherever we can on the busiest travel days and to provide alternative journey options where work affects the usual route. We are sorry that some passengers will face disruption.”

London Paddington

The station will close from Christmas Day while engineers work on improvements across the Thames Valley on the main line into the rail hub. Work includes replacing Dolphin Junction near Slough, upgrading overhead line equipment and installing new track. Paddington station is also in for a deep clean.

Services should return from New Year’s Eve, with the Elizabeth Line and Heathrow Express resuming to and from Paddington. Due to the scale of work at Dolphin Junction, Great Western Railway services won’t access Paddington until Monday, January 4.

Instead, long-distance GWR services will start and finish at Reading. Some services will divert to London Euston. Paddington station will remain open for customers to use the loos and other facilities.

Birmingham New Street

The station will close on Christmas Eve through to the start of service on Tuesday, December 29. Birmingham New Street station itself will stay open for passengers to use toilets and other facilities.

Great Eastern Main Line

The route will close for 10 days from Christmas Day for track replacement work at Forest Gate, east London. This is to replace worn-out rails and sleepers. It means no Greater Anglia or Elizabeth line trains will run through the area until the early hours of Monday, January 4.

Redhill

Lines through Redhill will close from December 20 for new track and points to be laid in the station area. Network Rail said points can be a cause of delay for passengers as they get older and harder to maintain in good condition so replacing them is a key part of improving punctuality.

Services to Brighton and Gatwick Airport will run, but buses will replace trains from Reigate and intermediate stations from Earlswood to Purley on the Brighton Main Line. The work is planned to end in the early hours of Monday, January 4.

Huddersfield

A revamp at Huddersfield Station enters its final phase this Christmas, with disruption expected in the area from Christmas Day until the morning of February 1.

The work aims to bring improvements to services in West Yorkshire and the region. This includes electrifying the railway and increasing capacity for faster, quieter trains across the north.