Network Rail is holding more public consultation events in Staffordshire to give local residents the opportunity to comment on plans to solve one of the few remaining bottlenecks on the key rail line connecting London, Birmingham, Manchester and Scotland.
Birmingham to Manchester trains leave the main line at Norton Bridge to continue their journeys to Stoke, Macclesfield, Stockport and then Manchester.
While they cross this busy junction, trains travelling to and from destinations such as Liverpool, Preston, the Lake District, Carlisle and Scotland cannot pass through the Norton Bridge area.
This reduces train speeds and has the potential to cause delays that can have a knock-on effect in other parts of the network.
Last year Network Rail asked people’s opinions on three options to solve this problem by building a flyover that will take Birmingham to Manchester trains up and over the main line rather than across it.
Following the first round of consultation and extensive analysis of the benefits and impacts of each option, a preferred option has been selected for further development.
This will provide:
- Two extra fast trains per hour between London and the North West
- One additional train per hour between Manchester (via Stone) and Birmingham
- One additional freight train per hour through Stafford
- Reduced congestion on the route making services more reliable and punctual.
More information on the scheme can be found here.
