Christmas warning for Northampton passengers as Birmingham New Street shuts
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Rail passengers travelling between Northampton and Birmingham face major disruption over Christmas when no trains will run to or from Birmingham New Street for five days.
Network Rail has announced that the major station will have no train services from Thursday, December 24, until Monday, December 28, while engineers begin a £13 million upgrade.
The closure will affect passengers travelling from Northampton towards Birmingham over the festive period, with journeys expected to take longer and potentially involve rail-replacement buses or local bus services.
Engineers will renew complex sections of overhead power lines on the approaches to and through Birmingham New Street, with much of the equipment dating from the 1960s.
The work is the first phase of a three-year programme, with further Christmas engineering work planned in 2027 and 2028.
Birmingham New Street station itself will remain open, including its toilets, assisted travel lounge and access to shops.
Detailed Christmas timetables are expected to be available from early October.