Birmingham prepare delays as bomb discovered close to railway line in Washwood Heath
Rail journeys departing Birmingham faced major disruption today after crews stumbled upon a ‘wartime bomb’.
Routes linking the city’s New Street station with Tamworth, Staffordshire, and Nuneaton, Warwickshire have been thrown into chaos.
An unexploded wartime device was unearthed close to the railway line, wreaking havoc on CrossCountry operations, traffic monitoring platform Inrix reported.
West Midlands Police have verified that an aged mortar shell was uncovered at Duddeston Mill Trading Estate in Washwood Heath, reports Birmingham Live.
Emergency crews evacuated the area, establishing a 100-metre safety cordon whilst explosive ordnance specialists raced to the location.
The Trainline platform displays trains heading to Nuneaton from Birmingham New Street running behind schedule.
A bulletin issued by Inrix stated: “Services at a stand on CrossCountry between Birmingham New Street and Nuneaton, and between Birmingham New Street and Tamworth due to a wartime bomb discovered near the railway.”
Separately, the Trainline system cautioned passengers on one New Street to Nuneaton route: “This service has been delayed by a wartime bomb near the railway.”
A West Midlands Police representative confirmed: “We were called to Duddeston Mill Trading Estate, on Duddeston Mill Road, Washwood Heath, shortly before 9.45am today (Tues) following the discovery of an old mortar device.
“The incident is self-contained within the site, and people have been evacuated. An EOD bomb disposal team are attending.
“A 100 metres exclusion zone is in operation which does impact the railway line at Duddeston, so rail services will be impacted while this is brought to a safe conclusion.”
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