Passengers are being advised to plan ahead of the August bank holiday weekend as major HS2 construction work in Birmingham will affect rail services between Birmingham New Street, Derby, and Nuneaton.
From Saturday 29 August to Monday 31 August 2026, there will be major changes to CrossCountry services between Birmingham New Street and Coleshill Parkway while HS2 engineers carry out work to install a section of the new Saltley Viaduct, which spans the railway between Birmingham and Water Orton.
The existing viaduct is being demolished and rebuilt as part of the construction of the future high-speed railway into Birmingham. The replacement structure will be two metres higher and wider than the existing viaduct, creating the space needed for HS2 to pass beneath it while also improving facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
During the three-day bank holiday closure, some CrossCountry journeys will take longer and rail replacement buses will operate between Birmingham New Street, Water Orton and Coleshill Parkway.
Services affected include routes between:
- Birmingham New Street and Leicester, Peterborough, Cambridge, and Stansted Airport.
- Cardiff Central and Nottingham via Birmingham New Street.
- Birmingham New Street and destinations across the North East, Scotland, and South West.
Passengers are advised to check before travelling and allow extra time to complete their journeys.
Patrick Cawley, director of On Network Works for Network Rail and HS2, said: “This August bank holiday, HS2 teams will carry out another important phase of work to replace Saltley Viaduct, a structure which spans one of the busiest railway corridors in the Midlands.
“The existing structure is being rebuilt to make way for Britain’s new high-speed railway into Birmingham. We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work takes place and encourage everyone travelling over the bank holiday weekend to check before they travel.”
Mark Anderson, CrossCountry’s customer & commercial director, commented: “We’re sorry for this disruption to journeys over the August bank holiday weekend while this essential HS2 work takes place.
“We encourage customers to check their journey before travelling and allow extra time to complete their trip. We’d like to thank all those travelling for their patience and understanding while this important work is carried out.”
The work is being delivered in partnership with Network Rail by HS2’s construction partner, Balfour Beatty VINCI, and forms part of a wider programme of work in the Saltley, Washwood Heath and Nechells areas to prepare for the arrival of high-speed rail services.
Image credit: Network Rail
