Passengers are being urged to check before they travel while track renewals, electrification and essential maintenance work is carried out across the Wales and Borders network this February and March.
Network Rail and Transport for Wales (TfW) are working on a programme of infrastructure upgrades, with the majority of work taking place during evenings and weekends to minimise disruption as much as possible.
Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential maintenance will help to make the route more robust before we go into the busy summer season.
“We recognise there is never a good time to close the railway, but we have planned the work to minimise disruption as much as possible.
“I would like to thank passengers for their patience and urge them to check their journey before travelling.”
Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at TfW, said: “This programme of work includes vital infrastructure upgrades for the South Wales Metro and other essential maintenance of our network.
“We understand rail replacements are frustrating for customers and we’ve worked hard to keep service disruption to a minimum.
“We have a comprehensive bus replacement plan to keep people moving while the work is taking place, and we advise customers to check for the latest information using the TfW website or mobile app before travelling.”
Buses replace trains during all work below unless otherwise stated.
February
- Between Wrexham and Bidston on Sunday 4, Saturday 10 and Sunday 11.
- Between Shrewsbury and Birmingham New Street on Sunday 4.
- Shrewsbury and Chester on Saturday 10 (after 6.15pm) and Sunday 11.
- Between Cardiff and Penarth/Barry Island/Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan line on Sunday 4 until 12.25pm.
- Between Cardiff/Newport and Ebbw Vale all day on Sundays 11, 18 and 25.
- Between Newtown and Machynlleth on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18. Some rail services will start/end at Shrewsbury.
- Between Rhyl and Holyhead on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18. Includes the Llandudno branch and Conwy Valley line.
- Pontypridd and Aberdare (until late morning) Sunday 18 until late morning.
- Cardiff Central and Rhymney (early morning), Caerphilly (all day) and Radyr via Cathays (all day) on Sunday 25.
- Between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay Sunday 25. Ticket acceptance with Cardiff Bus.
- Between Carmarthen/Haverfordwest and Milford Haven between Monday 26 and Thursday 29 Buses are planned to replace train services between Carmarthen and Milford Haven on 26-27 between 9.25am and 2.35pm, and between Haverfordwest and Milford Haven during the same hours on 28-29.
- Between Llanwrtyd and Llanelli between Monday 26 and Friday 1 March. Buses will start and end at Shrewsbury and some services will extend or start at Llandrindod Wells and some will start and end at Llandovery.
March
- Between Cardiff Central and Caerphilly, Radyr via Cathays, Penarth and Cardiff Bay (ticket acceptance with Cardiff Bus) all day between Friday 1 and Monday 4.
- Between Cardiff Central and Rhymney (early morning and late night) on Saturday 2 and early mornings only on Sunday 3 and Monday 4.
- Cardiff Central and Radyr via City line Saturday 2 and Monday 4 (both all day).
- Between Cardiff and Penarth/Barry Island/Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan line on Sunday 3 (until 12.25pm).
- Between Cardiff and Swansea on Sunday 3, Sunday 17 and Sunday 24.
- Between Knighton and Llandrindod on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10. Buses run from Shrewsbury and will connect in and out at Llanwrtyd.
- Cardiff Central and Radyr via Cathays Sunday 17 and Sunday 24 (both all day).
- Cardiff Central and Caerphilly and Cardiff Bay on Sunday 24 and Sunday 29 to Monday April 1 (all day).
- Cardiff Central and Radyr via Cathays Friday 29 to Monday 1 April (all day).
- Between Sunday 17 to Friday 23 March between Pembroke and Pembroke Dock. Buses will start and end at Carmarthen.
- Between Rhyl and Holyhead on Saturday 23. Includes the Llandudno branch and Conwy Valley line.
- Sunday 17 and Sunday 24 between Rhoose Cardiff Airport and Bridgend, and between Cardiff/Bridgend and Maesteg.
- Sunday 17 and Sunday 24 between Rhoose Cardiff Airport and Bridgend, and between Cardiff/Bridgend and Maesteg.
- Ebbw Vale line (morning only) on 23 March.
Photo credit: Network Rail
