16 days of rail disruption

Rail users in Welshpool can expected more delays and disruption in March as the line closes for 16 days for maintenance work.

Bus replacement services will be provided along the Cambrian Railway Line during that time.

As part of a £15 million investment in the railway, Network Rail engineers will be carrying out multiple track and drainage renewals, a bridge renewal, embankment work, vegetation management and track maintenance across various sites, between Monday 17 March and Wednesday 2 April.

Buses will replace trains:

Between Newtown and Aberystwyth from Monday 17 March until 9am on Friday 21 March
Between Machynlleth and Pwllheli from Monday 17 March until 9am on Friday 21 March
Between Shrewsbury and Machynlleth from 6pm on Friday 21 March until Wednesday 2 April
Network Rail and Transport for Wales (TfW) have worked closely together to maximise the amount of work done while the line is closed, reducing the total impact on passengers by avoiding eight days of further line closures over the next three years.

A statement said: "Closing the railway for this period will allow Network Rail to bring forward work scheduled for 2026 and 2027 and deliver multiple key projects at once, minimising future disruption and saving £1.5 million in the process."

It stated that the 16 days the line is closed, Network Rail engineers will be completing a range of work, including:

Track renewals: Replacing the existing, life-expired track at sites between Machynlleth and Dovey Junction, and between Machynlleth and Caersws.
Track maintenance: Carrying out essential maintenance of the track at multiple sites, including between Shrewsbury and Welshpool, and between Caersws and Newtown.
Embankment strengthening: Stabilising the embankment next to the railway near Talerddig by installing rock netting.
Bridge renewals: Refurbishing a railway bridge wall at Glantwymyn, between Machynlleth and Caersws.
Vegetation clearance: Teams will cut back trees and hedges that are either diseased or overgrown and could pose a significant threat to the railway at various sites between Shrewsbury and Aberystwyth.

In addition to the continued safe and reliable running of train services along this busy route, the track renewal at Machynlleth station will pave the way for the introduction of TfW’s new Class 197 trains.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director said: “We recognise there is never a good time to close the railway for a significant amount of time, but we have planned this essential work to minimise disruption as much as possible.

“To maximise efficiency and minimise future disruption, we have brought forward and included work that was scheduled to take place over the next two years.

“The scale of the work being carried is significant, with £15 million and thousands of hours of work being invested into improving the Cambrian line.

“We would like to thank passengers for their patience – and urge them to check their journeys before they travel.” 

Passengers are advised to check before they travel at www.journeycheck.com/tfwrail or www.nationalrail.co.uk.