Cross City Line Pauses for HS2 Viaduct Work
Cross City Line suspended May 29-31, 2026 for HS2 viaduct installation work
Cross City Line Faces 3-Day Shutdown for HS2 Work
Rail passengers traveling between Birmingham and Lichfield won't be able to use Cross City Line trains for three days starting May 29, 2026. Services between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley will be suspended from Friday, May 29 through Sunday, May 31, transit officials said. The closure's needed to install a 150-metre viaduct that'll eventually carry HS2 trains into the new Curzon Street station.
HS2 Viaduct Installation Requires Track Access
The engineering work involves installing a major viaduct structure that'll pass over an existing Victorian brick viaduct currently linking Duddeston with Birmingham New Street. HS2 has coordinated with Network Rail to use a "fully restrained" installation method that allows engineers to continue work after rail services resume, reducing overall disruption to the network. The three-day closure represents the minimum time needed for the critical installation phase, though officials didn't specify how long the entire viaduct project will take to complete.
Multiple Routes Affected by Construction
The shutdown affects the northern section of the Cross City line, while trains will continue operating normally between Birmingham New Street and Redditch or Bromsgrove on the southern end. Routes between Birmingham and Tame Bridge Parkway will also face disruption during the works. Services heading towards Rugeley Trent Valley will be diverted, resulting in longer journey times, though officials didn't provide specific delay estimates. Rail replacement buses will run between Birmingham New Street and Lichfield Trent Valley, as well as between Birmingham New Street and Tame Bridge Parkway.
Service Returns June 1
Train service will resume on Monday, June 1, 2026, officials confirmed. The "fully restrained" installation method means some construction work can continue alongside normal rail operations after the three-day closure ends. Officials didn't say whether additional shorter closures might be needed as the HS2 viaduct project progresses through 2026.
Plan Alternate Routes During Closure
Riders who regularly use the northern Cross City line should expect significantly longer travel times during the May 29-31 closure period and plan extra time for their journeys. Those traveling between Birmingham and Lichfield will need to use replacement buses, while passengers heading to Tame Bridge Parkway should check for service updates. Moovit provides real-time updates for Cross City Line services and replacement bus schedules during the closure.
