To ensure the continued safety and efficiency of the rail network, Network Rail and Transport for Wales have unveiled a comprehensive maintenance plan encompassing electrification work and track renewal.
These essential works are scheduled to take place during the months of February and March, impacting several rail lines, including significant enhancements to the South Wales Metro system.
Passengers are strongly advised to check and plan their journeys accordingly to minimise disruptions.
During the maintenance period, bus replacement services will be deployed to substitute for most affected rail services. Detailed information about the impacted services and corresponding bus replacement options is outlined below:
February:
- Saturday, February 10, and Sunday, February 11, bus replacement services will operate between Wrexham and Bidston
- On Saturday, February 10 (after 6:15 pm) and Sunday, February 11, bus replacement services will be available between Shrewsbury and Chester.
- All day on three successive Sundays, February 11, 18, and 25, bus replacement services will be in effect between Cardiff/Newport and Ebbw Vale.
- On Saturday, February 17, and Sunday, February 18, rail services between Newtown and Machynlleth will be affected, with some services starting or ending at Shrewsbury.
- On Saturday, February 17, and Sunday, February 18, bus replacement services will be implemented between Rhyl and Holyhead, including the Llandudno branch and Conwy Valley Line.
- On Sunday, February 18, there will be disruptions between Pontypridd and Aberdare (until late morning).
- On Sunday, February 25, rail services between Cardiff Central and Rhymney (early morning), Caerphilly (all day), and Radyr via Cathays (all day) will be impacted. Bus replacement services will also operate between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay, with ticket acceptance on Cardiff Bus routes.
- From Monday, February 26, to Thursday, February 29, bus services will replace train services between Carmarthen and Milford Haven from 9:25 am to 2:35 pm, as well as between Haverfordwest and Milford Haven during the same hours on February 28-29.
- From Monday, February 26, to Friday, March 1, bus replacement services will run between Llanwrtyd and Llanelli, with some services extending or starting at Llandrindod Wells and Llandovery.
March:
- All day between Friday, March 1, and Monday, March 4, bus replacement services will operate between Cardiff Central and Caerphilly, Radyr via Cathays, Penarth, and Cardiff Bay, with ticket acceptance on Cardiff Bus routes.
- On Saturday, March 2, and early mornings on Sunday, March 3, and Monday, March 4, rail services between Cardiff Central and Rhymney will be affected.
- On Saturday, March 2, and Monday, March 4, all-day disruptions will occur on the Cardiff Central and Radyr via City line.
- On Sunday, March 3, until 12:25 pm, buses will replace trains between Cardiff and Penarth/Barry Island/Bridgend via the Vale of Glamorgan Line.
- On Sunday, March 3, bus replacement services are planned between Bridgend and Port Talbot Parkway, as Network Rail engineers carry out essential track renewals. GWR will not operate train services between Cardiff and Swansea.
- On Saturday, March 9, and Sunday, March 10, bus replacement services will run between Knighton and Llandrindod, connecting in and out at Llanwrtyd.
- On Sunday, March 17, and Sunday, March 24, rail services between Cardiff Central and Radyr via Cathays will be impacted all day.
- On Sunday, March 24, to Monday, April 1, bus replacement services will operate between Cardiff Central and Caerphilly, Cardiff Bay, and Radyr via Cathays, affecting passengers throughout the day.
- From Friday, March 29, to Monday, April 1, all-day disruptions will occur on the Cardiff Central and Radyr via Cathays line.
- Between Sunday, March 17, and Friday, March 23, bus replacement services are scheduled between Pembroke and Pembroke Dock, with services starting and ending at Carmarthen.
- On Saturday, March 23, bus replacement services will be implemented between Rhyl and Holyhead, including the Llandudno branch and Conwy Valley Line.
- On successive Sundays in March, the 17th and 24th, services between Bridgend and Swansea will also be affected, with buses replacing train services from Cardiff/Rhoose (on the Vale of Glamorgan Line) to Swansea, with buses starting and ending at Cardiff.
- On March 23, the Ebbw Vale line will experience morning disruptions.
Passengers are urged to stay informed about the maintenance work and associated service disruptions, as the schedule is subject to change. Planning ahead and using the provided bus replacement services will help ensure a smoother travel experience during this essential maintenance period.
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.”
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.”
