New Street work should improve services to and from Coventry

A �9.5m plan will see new tracks added to several platforms at the eastern end of Birmingham New Street.

The work to replace 40-year-old track runs from Christmas Day to 3 January, the first day back to work for many people after the Christmas break.

And work at Birmingham International station will close the Coventry to Birmingham line on Christmas Eve.

The new tracks at New Street and International stations should improve reliability for local Coventry to Birmingham services, plus express trains from London to Wolverhampton, which share a congested line.

'Quieter time'

There are virtually no rail services across England on 25 and 26 December.

But on other days, the work will lead to longer journey times for Virgin's London to Coventry, Birmingham and Black Country services, and buses replacing local services run by Central Trains.

Peter Strachan, Network Rail route director, said preparation work had been done to minimise the disruption to passengers.

He said: "Christmas is traditionally a quieter time for the railway with fewer passengers travelling.

"This major investment will make the track more reliable, providing a better services for passengers who use New Street station."