Rail line to close on Sundays for £2m repairs on historic tunnel
A 157-year-old railway tunnel is to close for the next six Sundays as a £2 million Network Rail project is carried out.
Repairs and strengthening work will be made on the Old Hill tunnel, in Rowley Regis, which carries trains between Stourbridge Junction and Birmingham's Snow Hill station.
Network Rail says this will ensure the tunnel will be safe and reliable for years to come - but it will cause temporary delays for rail passengers.
The line will close starting this Sunday and continuing on January 18 and 25 and February 1, 8 and 15.
This will also affect late trains on Saturdays with the line to close at 10.30pm before reopening at 5am on Mondays. Replacement bus services will be put on by West Midlands Trains to support affected passengers.
The Old Hill tunnel was built in 1867 as part of the existing Stourbridge Junction to Snow Hill line and runs for 819 metres, almost one kilometre, underneath Rowley Regis.
The upgrade is part of the multi-billion-pound Railway Upgrade Plan, announced by the Government, which is the largest investment programme in railways since the Victorian times.
Kathryn Berry, scheme project manager at Network Rail, said: “We appreciate the patience of passengers while we carry out these vital improvements to Old Hill tunnel as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan.
"The work will mean fewer train delays on the Birmingham to Stourbridge line and make this Victorian-built structure fit for the 21st Century.”
Richard Brooks, head of customer experience for West Midlands Railway, added: “We thank our passengers for their patience while Network Rail carries out this essential maintenance work which will ultimately help improve reliability on this important route.
“Replacement bus services will be in place on each affected Sunday, calling at all stations between Birmingham Snow Hill and Stourbridge Junction. Services between Stourbridge Town and Stourbridge Junction will run as normal. Trains between Stourbridge and Worcestershire will operate to an amended timetable and passengers are advised to check their journeys before travelling.”
Passengers can find out more about travel information by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk
