Bank Holiday Rail Warning as Cardiff Queen Street Lines Close for Essential Works

Transport for Wales is urging passengers to plan ahead over the Bank Holiday weekend, with warm weather, expected leisure travel and planned rail improvement work all likely to affect journeys.

Essential infrastructure work will close all lines through Cardiff Queen Street on Sunday 24 May and Bank Holiday Monday 25 May. During the closure, rail replacement buses and diverted services will be used to keep passengers moving across the Cardiff and Valleys network.

Trains from Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr will continue to run into Cardiff Central via the City Line, through Ninian Park. Rail replacement services will operate between Radyr and Llandaf, Cathays, Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay.

Transport for Wales has also warned that some services are likely to be busier than normal because of industrial action affecting West Midlands Railway on Friday 22 May and Saturday 23 May. That action will impact Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton and Hereford - Birmingham routes, with TfW expecting additional pressure on its services as a result. Extra capacity will be provided where possible.

The forecast warm weather is also expected to increase demand for trains to popular coastal destinations, including Barry Island and the North Wales coast.

Passengers are being reminded that a timetable change came into effect on Sunday 17 May, meaning some services may now call at different stations or operate at different times.

Customers are being advised to check before travelling, allow more time for journeys and prepare for the hot weather by carrying water, staying hydrated and taking sensible precautions while on the move.

Sarah Higgins, Operations Director at Transport for Wales said:

"Transport for Wales will be running its normal timetable over the Bank Holiday weekend, but some services may be much busier than usual due to industrial action at West Midlands Railway affecting Shrewsbury–Birmingham and Hereford–Birmingham services on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 May. With high temperatures also forecast, customers are encouraged to take extra care when travelling, check for the latest travel information using the TfW website, mobile app, or social media channels, and to stay hydrated."

Image: Transport for Wales