Disruption on Staffordshire and Walsall trains as work starts on rail track
Rail track between Staffordshire and Walsall will have to be lowered as part of the multi-million pound electrification of the Chase Line, leading to disruption for train commuters.
The work needs to be carried out to enable room for overhead power lines to be installed.
Network Rail has confirmed there will be planned railway closures as part of the project.
It is due to take place later this year and run into the spring – and it is expected there will be diversions and buses put on as an alternative for rail travellers.
Some bridges are being rebuilt and made higher to accommodate the equipment.
But Network Rail has confirmed other parts of the £30 million scheme includes lowering the track.
Parts of the existing line will be removed and some digging work carried out to allow the line to be lower down.
Areas where this needs to done are Sneyd Lane, Leamore Lane, Green Lane, Coalpool Lane, Littleton Street, Bloxwich Road, Forest Lane and Wyrley and Essington canal aqueduct.
In a statement the rail company said: "Network Rail is electrifying 15 miles of railway between Walsall, Hednesford and Rugeley Trent Valley to help provide a more regular and reliable train service for passengers.
"As well as rebuilding bridges to create the clearance needed for overhead power lines, the track under certain bridges will be lowered to create that space.
"This is achieved by removing existing track and rebuilding the railway at a lower height. The work will be carried out during planned closures of the railway between now and spring 2015 which have been kept as short as possible to cause the least disruption.
"Passengers are advised to always check before they travel at www.nationalrail.co.uk for the latest information."
It comes as four months of roadworks will hit motorists during bridge replacement work starting next week.
A higher bridge is to be built in Central Drive, Bloxwich, will begins on Tuesday with the project expected to take until February 20.
The adjacent level crossing at Reeves Street will remain open throughout the scheme.
Similar work is to be carried out on North Street, which is a busy cut through into Walsall town centre during the same period. Diversions will be in place for motorists.
Bridge replacement work was carried out in Broad Lane, Bloxwich, earlier this year, but the work sparked complaints due to delays in it being finished.
