West Wales train service set for three weeks disruption

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West Wales train service set for three weeks disruption

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Track renewal at Pembroke in March 2024. // Credit: Network Rail
Track renewal at Pembroke in March 2024. // Credit: Network Rail

Starting next Saturday, 25th January for three weeks, train services in West will be severely disrupted and replaced by rail-replacement bus services because of essential engineering work.

From Saturday, 25th January until Sunday, 9th February, there will be no trains between and Fishguard Harbour and from Saturday, 1st February to Friday, 14th February between Carmarthen and Dock.

Class 197 at Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock station. // Credit: Transport for Wales

The suspension of train services will allow Network Rail to carry out essential track renewals, drainage work, and vegetation management.

Network Rail engineers will perform safety-critical vegetation management between Clarbeston Road and Fishguard Harbour, including removing potentially hazardous trees and vegetation, and diseased, dead, or dying trees.

Passengers are advised to check before they travel via the Transport for Wales journey planner or National Rail Enquiries.

Track Renewals

  • Track will be renewed at Trellewelyn near Fishguard.
  • At Tunnel, engineers will renew 977 yards of track and 600 yards of drainage, requiring 1,400 new sleepers and 3,900 tonnes of ballast.
  • At Pembroke Tunnel, 582 yards of track and 600 yards of drainage will be renewed, requiring 815 new sleepers and 2,500 tonnes of ballast.
TfW Class 197 train at Carmarthen station
Transport for Wales Class 197 train at Carmarthen station // Credit: Transport for Wales

Rail-replacement bus services

  • Between Fishguard Harbour and Haverfordwest via Fishguard & Goodwick.
  • Between Fishguard Harbour and Carmarthen calling at Clarbeston Road, Clunderwen, and Whitland.
  • Between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock, some buses will call at all stations and others will only stop at Whitland and Tenby.

Road Closures

  • At Spittal Tunnel near Rosedown cemetery, the road will be closed between 9.30 am and 3.30pm from Monday 27 January to Friday 31 January to allow trees directly above the bridge to be removed safely.
  • Station Road, Manorbier, will be closed between 7 am and 4 pm from Monday, 3rd to Friday, 7th February, and again from Monday, 10th to Friday, 14th February.

Train services will also be disrupted in east Wales next weekend when essential engineering work between Newport and Severn Tunnel Junction affects train services between Bristol/Gloucester and South Wales.

Tamper at work after renewing track in the Severn Tunnel. // Credit: Network Rail
Tamper at work after track renewal in the Severn Tunnel. // Credit: Network Rail

During Storm Bert and Storm Darragh at the end of last year, we recovered vast amounts of fallen trees, branches, and other items on the track. Fortunately, there were no injuries to passengers or train drivers, however, there is still more to do. Our number one priority is the safety of the public, passengers and railway staff, and our work between Clarbeston Road and Fishguard Harbour will help to make the railway safer. We are also working really hard to improve train service punctuality and the essential track renewals in Pembrokeshire are a part of our commitment to do that. We recognise there is never a good time to close the railway, but we have planned the renewals to minimise as much as possible. I would like to thank passengers for their patience and urge them to check their journeys before travelling.”

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director

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