PLANNED rail closures to upgrade tracks ahead of the Commonwealth Games have been extended to Dorridge.
Network Rail have announced the works, which will take place between June 20 and 23 will now see the line between Dorridge and Birmingham Moor Street closed.
It added this allows better flexibility for the trains which will be running on the rest of the Chiltern main line.
Last month plans to move parts of track which allow trains from the Tyseley maintenance depot to get on and off the rail network were announced.
The £3million project will see new rails, sleepers and ballast installed, removing graffiti and overgrown plants and stressing rails so they cope better in hot weather.
Denise Wetton, Network Rail’s Central route director, said: “There’s never an ideal time to shut the railway and a mid-week closure for work like this is rare, but after carefully reviewing recent passenger numbers on this route we’ve found it’s the least disruptive time to make these essential improvements.
“These upgrades will benefit journeys across the wider West Midlands, providing passengers with an efficient, cleaner and more reliable railway throughout our major summer of sport.
“It will also help to reduce the risk of platforms becoming overcrowded as a result of the predicted one million extra passenger journeys during the Commonwealth Games.”
Rail replacement buses will be in operation.
Passengers are advised to check ahead by clicking here.
