On Nat Rail site today (Thursday 18 Aug):

 Track defect at Smethwick Galton Bridge
Time reported 14:39
TOC(s) affected Central Trains, Chiltern Railways, Virgin Trains
Route affected Worcester Foregate Street - Kidderminster - Smethwick
Galton Bridge - Birmingham Snow Hill - Dorridge; also Wolverhampton -
Birmingham New Street - Reading/London Euston

I thought that the Kidderminster - Snow Hill line crossed over the
Wolverhampton - New Street line at Galton Bridge, with a spur allowing
Kidderminster - New Street journeys some way away to the west of, and
not serving, the station.
What track defect could affect both the high-level and low-level lines?

A scenario could exist where a Stourbridge Jn-Snow Hill service is
delayed at Smethwick West waiting a signal towards SGB due to a signal
or TC failure.

A Worcester-Nottingham service (if there is one) would be "on block" of
it at Langley Green, waiting a route towards Galton Jn and the Up Stour
Valley, causing a delay towards Birmingham New St.

This is why one train that leaves New St for Manchester 9 minutes late
waiting a guard who has overslept, causes FOUR AND A HALF HOURS worth
of delay minutes to other services on NR.

Its not just the delayed service - its the knock-ons which are the
killer !!!

Welcome to John Major's trainset - even Maggie hadn't the balls to
privatise the BR system in the end !!!

In article ,
cityofoxford  writes

>I thought that the Kidderminster - Snow Hill line crossed over the
>Wolverhampton - New Street line at Galton Bridge, with a spur allowing
>Kidderminster - New Street journeys some way away to the west of, and
>not serving, the station.
>What track defect could affect both the high-level and low-level lines?


The spur as you call it is I recall only a few yards from the end of the
Platforms at Galton Bridge High Level, this station replaced Smethwick
West which trains used to call before the Snow Hill route was opened and
most trains diverted this way.

Galton Bridge was opened 24th September 1995 and Smethwick West lingered
on for another year with a token service last trains called 28th
September 1996 and I was on the last train.

There was no original station for the Birmingham to Wolverhampton line.

-- 
Al