Network Rail Launches £13 Million Overhead Line Upgrade at Birmingham New Street

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On 22 September, Network Rail announced that it will launch an overhead line upgrade project at Birmingham New Street during this year's Christmas period, with an investment of £13 million. The first phase of construction is scheduled to take place from 24 to 28 December, during which engineers will focus on replacing the overhead line equipment on the station's approach lines and in complex sections within the station, a considerable portion of which has been in service since the 1960s. During the construction period, Birmingham New Street will suspend all train arrivals and departures.

This project is part of a three-year overhead line renewal programme. The Christmas 2026 construction is the first phase, with subsequent renewals to continue during the Christmas periods of 2027 and 2028. Network Rail has concentrated the construction windows during the Christmas period when passenger traffic is relatively low, in order to obtain continuous possession conditions and carry out concentrated replacement of the complex overhead power supply system in the station area.

Some of the overhead power supply equipment at Birmingham New Street has been in operation for more than 60 years. Network Rail previously carried out special inspections, repairs and re-tensioning of the overhead line equipment within the station in 2024, at which time it was confirmed that some of the conductors could be traced back to the mid-1960s. The system uses 25kV AC power supply to provide traction power for electric trains passing through Birmingham New Street.

The first round of works in 2026 will focus on renewing the approach lines and complex overhead line sections within the station, with the remaining equipment replacement to continue in phases over the following two years. The project and the digital signalling system upgrade previously completed at Birmingham New Street belong to different infrastructure systems. The station has been undergoing signalling modernisation since 2021, and at the end of 2022 train control functions were transferred to the West Midlands Signalling Control Centre.

From 24 to 28 December, rail passenger services passing through Birmingham New Street will be organised through diverted routes, rail replacement buses and connections to local public transport, with normal train services scheduled to resume on 29 December. Network Rail will continue to publish specific Christmas-period train adjustment plans together with operators and local transport authorities.