Rugby-to-Stafford rail passengers face delays as signals connected

West Midlands Trains said major upgrades would result in either "longer journey times, bus replacements or alterations to services"

Rail passengers face delays as tracks are shut between Rugby and Stafford on Sunday for signalling work to be done.

The closure enables engineers to connect new signals installed as part of an £85m investment on the West Coast main line between Rugeley and Colwich.

Work will also take place next weekend, but be finished by Monday 22 January.

Long-distance trains will use alternative routes and rail replacement buses will keep more local passengers on the move between stations.

Avanti West Coast said it would operate an amended timetable and journeys to and from London Euston would take longer.

Passengers should check with National Rail Enquiries while planning their journeys.

The work, which has been taking place in stages since 2017, includes upgrading more than 120 axel counters - a system used to detect if a section of track is clear.

'More reliable journeys'

Colwich and Trent Valley work stations have also been combined in Staffordshire, and will be based at the Rugby Rail Operating Centre in Warwickshire.

Thirty nine new signals have been installed.

Dave Penney, Network Rail passenger director for the North West and Central region, said major signalling improvements on the line would mean "better, smoother and more reliable journeys" in future.

"[But] complex upgrades like these mean we have no choice but to close sections of railway for new signalling equipment to be installed and tested," he explained.

West Midlands Trains said as major upgrades like this are undertaken there would be either "longer journey times, bus replacements or alterations to services along the West Coast Main Line".

Jonny Wiseman, customer experience director, explained the vital work would "support a better travel experience, providing passengers with more efficient journeys" in the future.