Major engineering work will cause disruption to train services through the Cardiff area between Christmas and the New Year.

Work will be carried out west of Cardiff Central station from 23:30 on Wednesday, 24th, until 04:00 on Wednesday, 31st December, and from 23:30 on Saturday, 3rd January until 09:00 on Sunday, 4th January, with engineers working 24 x 7 continuously.

During this time, track, sleepers, switches, and crossings will be relaid, which will also require the closure of some lines through Cardiff Central station.

The times of some services may be changed, and the work may also affect services elsewhere on the wider rail network.

Summary of service changes:

• On Saturday and Sunday, trains between London Paddington and Cardiff Central, Swansea, and Carmarthen will use platform 4 at Cardiff Central, and retimed to depart up to 2 minutes earlier or later than usual.
• Trains between Cardiff Central and Bridgend via Ninian Park will be diverted and will not stop at Ninian Park.
• Transport for Wales services to Maesteg will only run between Bridgend and Maesteg.
• Transport for Wales services between Ebbw Vale Town and Maesteg will be truncated to operate between Ebbw Vale Town and Newport only.
• There will be a much-reduced service run between Ebbw Vale Town and Cardiff Central, which may require passengers to change trains at Newport.
• Services between Cardiff, Hereford, and Shrewsbury, and between Bridgend, Swansea, and Carmarthen may be affected, and may run at different times to those advertised in the timetable.

The festive period sees fewer passengers travelling by train, and there are fewer train services. That makes it an ideal time for Network Rail to carry out its major engineering work, and causes less disruption to people who rely on train services, as it allows sections of the network to be closed and essential upgrades to be completed.

Elsewhere on Britain’s railway network during the Christmas period, Network Rail will be carrying out major projects that will affect services in and out of London Waterloo and at Mirfield in West Yorkshire.