Trent Valley Four Tracking
As part of the West Coast Main Line works, the route through Tamworth, Lichfield and Armitage with Handsacre has been widened from two tracks to four tracks removing the bottleneck to allow more trains to run more reliably. By widening the railway, higher speed, tilting trains can be separated from local passenger trains and slower moving freight trains. In August 2008 Network Rail achieved a significant milestone in the project with four tracks being fully operational along the 12 mile stretch between Tamworth and Armitage with Handsacre. A total of 19 miles of railway has been transferred to new signalling and is now controlled at the Rugby Control Centre.
In 2004 Network Rail's Trent Valley Four Tracking (TV4) project began. In four years, major work has been carried out to reconstruct 35 bridge structures to accommodate the additional two tracks, install new tracks and renew existing tracks, install new junctions, renew the overhead power lines and equipment along with the signalling system. Redundant equipment and junctions have also been removed.
All of this work has had to be carried out with due consideration for local communities, the local environment and local road and utilities networks such as water and electricity. In many areas, the track crosses roads, footpaths, rivers and canals. In its journey through the Trent Valley, the West Coast Main Line runs through highly urbanised areas such as Upper Gungate in Tamworth and very rural areas like those between Lichfield and Armitage. Two public inquiries were held in 2001-2002 into the proposal. The Secretary of State made two Transport and Works Orders, in 2003 and 2004, granting Network Rail the necessary powers for the work. In using these powers Network Rail is committed to working closely with communities and stakeholders to cause as little disruption as possible, whilst giving as much forewarning as we can of work that will take place.
Working with communities and our stakeholders
Our work impacts on local people and businesses. That is why Network Rail is committed to being a good neighbour, minimising disruption and forewarning about work before it begins.
In order to achieve this we are:
- working closely with the councils that represent you; Lichfield District Council, Tamworth Borough Council and Staffordshire Council as well as parish councils. We also work closely with other authorities such as the Environment Agency; and
- operating a local rate helpline 08457 114141 24 hours a day, seven day a week to help you with any queries or concerns; and keeping this website up to date
Compensation guidance
Compensation guidance document
Working with the community
Lichfield - Sheriff’s Ride
Traffic Management
Armitage with handsacre
Lichfield
Nethersowe Lane, Tewnals Lane and Shaw Lane
Newsletters
TV4 Newsletter - November 2007
TV4 newsletter - August 2006
Armitage to Tamworth - Keeping you informed of improvements to the railway - 10 January 2006
TV4 newsletter - September 2005
TV4 newsletter - May 2005