"TfWM are also working with London Midland, Network Rail and other Train
Operating Companies to plan the management of the New Street and Soho
area signalling works being undertaken over the Christmas period this year.
This will see major railway closures taking place during late December and early
January to allow for the renewal of a large amount of 1966 signalling which is
now life expired together with the recasting, remodelling, upgrading and
renewing of key track junctions. The £246m scheme will deliver a number of
passenger and operational benefits including improved reliability, increased
track capacity, enhanced line speeds exiting New Street and provision of turn
back systems. Closures will affect the various parts of the network from the
evening of 23/12/2017 to 03/01/2018. Main impacts will be on services on the
Chase Line, Birmingham to Wolverhampton and the Snow Hill line. Entry and
exit of Soho Depot which stables and maintains some of London Midland’s
electric trains will also be affected and this will need to be carefully managed.
As more detail on timescales, areas affected by the blockades and passenger
impacts are known, updates will be provided to committee. Further works are
also planned in May 2018 around Birmingham International and in December
2021 around New Street Station."
