A signalling fault at Birmingham Moor Street railway station on 12 November 2026 blocked lines through the station and caused widespread service suspensions. Platforms 1 and 2 reopened around 11:00 GMT, but platforms 3 and 4 remained closed, blocking terminating services.
Impact on Chiltern Railways and West Midlands Railway Services
Train disruptions affected routes operated by Chiltern Railways and West Midlands Railway. Chiltern Railways services running between London Marylebone and Birmingham Moor Street, Birmingham Snow Hill, and Stourbridge Junction experienced cancellations and delays of up to one hour. West Midlands Railway suspended services through Moor Street for several hours before partial resumption around 11:00 GMT, though severe delays continued
on the Snow Hill lines.
Timeline and Continuing Delays
Service disruptions persisted until at least midday on 12 November 2026. According to West Midlands Railway, services resumed movement around 11:00 GMT, yet delays on Snow Hill lines remained significant. The reopening of platforms 1 and 2 did not restore full service due to the ongoing displacement of trains and traincrew and blocked terminating platforms 3 and 4.
Additional Disruptions from RMT Strike and Route Suspensions
An ongoing RMT strike at Moor Street compounded delays and cancellations. This industrial action caused no train services between Leamington Spa and Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as north of Moor Street for the entire day. Disruptions extended to
West Midlands Railway routes serving Worcester Foregate Street, Kidderminster, and surrounding areas.
Network Rail staff were on site addressing the signalling fault but could not restore full operational capacity by midday.
Official Statements and Traveller Arrangements
A National Rail spokesperson said, “A fault at Birmingham Moor Street means lines are blocked through the affected area. As a result of this, trains at Birmingham Moor Street may be cancelled or delayed.” The spokesperson also noted, “The through platforms (Platforms 1 and 2) have now reopened at Moor Street. However, due to the disruption and the displacement of trains and traincrew, services still remain subject to severe
delays and cancellations. The terminating platforms (Platforms 3 and 4) remain blocked. This is affecting other operators’ services on this route.”
West Midlands Railway issued a statement: “Services are on the move now, however we are continuing to experience severe delays across the Snow Hill lines.”
To support affected passengers, National Express West Midlands buses and West Midlands Metro accepted rail tickets without additional cost. These alternative transport options cover routes between Solihull or Shirley, Stourbridge Town and Birmingham Snow Hill, as well as between Wolverhampton and Birmingham Snow Hill.
Passengers travelling on affected routes were advised to expect cancellations, delays up to an hour, and service alterations through the morning period on 12 November 2026.
