West Coast Projects

Delivering further improvements on such a busy railway is a huge challenge with £750m of investment planned in 2008. Below are details of the schemes Network Rail is delivering:

Trent Valley Four Tracking (TV4)

This important and complex £350m project will deliver two new train tracks through the Midlands, between Tamworth and Armitage. This work will unlock a major bottleneck on the route, enabling 125mph trains to travel on this part of the West Coast Main Line. Network Rail’s works will have real benefits for passengers, helping to reduce journey times and increasing the number of trains that can use the line.

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Rugby

Rugby is a key junction on the West Coast Main Line; one of the busiest train routes in Europe. At present, trains can only travel at 75mph through the station, slowing journey times on a 125mph railway. The work is part of an investment of £415m to simplify the tracks and signalling, build an additional two platforms and improve station facilities. This will allow faster and more frequent trains to travel through the station, and reduce delays by keeping fast and slower trains apart.

Nuneaton

Nuneaton is also a key junction on the West Coast Main Line; one of the busiest train routes in Europe. At present, trains can only travel at 90 -110mph through the station, slowing journey times on a 125mph railway line. The work is part of an investment of £415m, and will simplify the junction layout and modernise the signalling system. The work will allow faster and more frequent trains on the line, and reduce delays by keeping fast and slower trains apart.

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Milton Keynes

The scheme is a key part of upgrading the West Coast Main Line and supports government plans to increase the number of new homes in the area. Network Rail is working to improve the signalling and track layout, as well as providing new platforms. These improvements will prepare the station and the line for future growth in the number of passengers.

Stoke

Work in the area of Stoke involves remodelling and realignment of tracks to improve the railway and allow for faster and more frequent trains. There will also be the capacity for longer trains on the network, meaning more passengers can benefit from this work use the railway. Work is being carried out at Stoke station to extend the platforms to accommodate these longer trains, and the area will benefit from improvement work to the signalling and power equipment.

Other Works

A programme of works to increase the speed of trains across the West Coast route is underway. This involves upgrades to the track, signalling and overhead lines from Rugby to Glasgow. We will also be working to upgrade the power supply on the route and simplifying the lay-out of a critical section of track between Crewe Coal Yard and Weaver Junction enabling trains to travel through the area more quickly.