Camp Hill Line - Moseley, Kings Heath & Hazelwell

[Ian Hardy]

Pre COVID the through Cross Country services between Manchester Piccadilly and Bristol Temple Meads would use the Camp Hill line to avoid a reversal in Birmingham New Street.

[sonic84]

Yes, that's what I thought, but doesn't appear to be the case now.

Was hoping to ride it before it opens to regular services, so looks like will be an early Cardiff bound train will need to do :-)

[Ian Hardy]

The problem is that since COVID Cross Country are not running any through services Manchester to the South West, all the services from Manchester go to Reading and beyond. The only services to the South West are from Derby and beyond which have no need to use the Camp Hill line as they approach Birmingham New Street from the east and so can run via Five Ways without any need to reverse.

So until services get back to normal, there won't be many services along the Camp Hill Line (at times when most people would want to travel), that is until the stopping services along the Camp Hill Line start to run in year XXXX.

The reason the early Cardiff services run via the Camp Hill line is that the services start at Birmingham New Street as the DMU spends the night in Tyseley depot, and to keep the crews up to date with the Camp Hill Line.

[sonic84]

Aha, thanks for the explanation!  Much appreciated. Cheers

[Roy]

A bit late, but XC are operating via Camp Hill today due to engineering works at University.  However, I understand that there will be more engineering possessions at University over the next few months as work proceeds to build the new station building.

[Roy]

According to RTT, CrossCountry services will be diverted via the Camp Hill line on Sunday 5 September. 

[sonic84]

Oh fab. Thanks so much for letting me know

[Stu]

It was inevitable really...

Major delay to opening of Birmingham's new train line - full list of stations affected
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/major-delay-opening-birminghams-new-27206917

The opening of Birmingham's Camp Hill line has been delayed by a YEAR in an announcement made today, June 27. It means the city's three new railway stations at Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley will not be opening as scheduled at the end of 2023.

The brand new railway stations coming to Moseley, Kings Heath and Stirchley are set to restore passenger services in South Birmingham- which closed down during the Second World War. But transport bosses explained today that supply chain and cost concerns and the suspension of construction work for engineering means that although the majority of construction work will be finished early next year, they are targeting an opening date by the end of 2024.