No trains will run at one of the country's busiest railway stations over Christmas, it has been confirmed.

Major engineering works mean there will be no services to or from Birmingham New Street from 24 to 28 December.

Over the five-day period Network Rail will begin work on a £13m upgrade of the station's overhead power lines, with much of the wiring dating back to the 1960s.

Martin Colmey, route director for the Network Rail Central route, said there was "never a good time for this type of work" but efforts had been made to "reduce its impact as much as possible".

"Christmas is a quieter time but we know it will affect journeys at an important time of the year," he added.

The work in December is the first phase of a three-year programme, with further upgrades taking place over the Christmas period in 2027 and 2028 to improve reliability on the rail network.

Passengers have been warned by Network Rail that affected journeys will take longer, and may involve using dedicated rail-replacement buses or regular local buses.

"We want to make people aware as early as possible so they can plan ahead," Colmey said.

"As soon as tickets are available to buy for Christmas travel, there will be clear, detailed information to help passengers plan their journeys and make informed decisions."

Timetables for Christmas travel will be confirmed and made available online from early October.

The station building will remain open during the engineering work, allowing people to continue accessing shops, including Grand Central, and the wider city centre.

Facilities in the station, including the assisted travel lounge and toilets, will remain open and there will be staff on hand every day to provide help and assistance.

More information about alternative travel options, journey times, rail-replacement buses and advice on using other transport providers will be shared on the National Rail website once plans are finalised.

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