Services Suspended After Incident
Rail services through Birmingham New Street were brought to a standstill on Tuesday afternoon following an incident involving a person on the tracks. The disruption began at around 1:30 PM, with all lines blocked between Birmingham New Street and Coventry, leading to cancellations and delays across multiple routes.
According to Network Rail, the incident occurred near the station's approach tracks. Emergency services, including paramedics and British Transport Police, attended the scene. A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “We are dealing with an incident at Birmingham New Street. All lines are currently closed, and passengers are advised to check before travelling. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
Widespread Delays and Cancellations
The closure affected services operated by Avanti West Coast, West Midlands Railway, and CrossCountry. Trains between Birmingham and London Euston were delayed by up to 90 minutes, with some services cancelled entirely. Passengers were advised to use alternative routes via Crewe or via the Chiltern Mainline.
A total of 32 trains were cancelled, and over 150 were delayed during the two-hour suspension. The knock-on effects persisted into the evening, with residual delays of up to 30 minutes reported on several routes.
Passenger Impact
Thousands of passengers were affected, with many stranded at New Street station and other hubs. Travel advice urged passengers to check National Rail Enquiries for updates. Some passengers took to social media to express frustration over the lack of information.
One commuter, Sarah Thompson, said: “I was due to catch a train to London for a meeting. The announcement just said ‘incident’ with no further details. I ended up taking a taxi to Coventry to catch an alternative service.”
Investigation Underway
British Transport Police confirmed they are investigating the circumstances of the incident. A force spokesperson said: “Officers were called to Birmingham New Street at 1:35 PM following reports of a person on the tracks. The incident is not being treated as suspicious at this time.”
Network Rail has launched a full investigation into the incident, which is standard procedure after such events. The line reopened fully by 3:45 PM, but services took several hours to return to normal.
Advice for Passengers
Passengers affected by the delays are advised to retain their tickets and claim compensation through the Delay Repay scheme. Network Rail recommends checking journey planners before travelling for the latest updates.
