Cambrian Line Disruption: Major Engineering Works to Prepare for New Trains

Passengers using the Cambrian Line are being warned of disruption this May as a programme of engineering works gets underway to prepare the route for new trains entering service later this year.

Network Rail will carry out a series of infrastructure upgrades between Shrewsbury, Aberystwyth and Machynlleth from Friday 8 May through to Friday 22 May, with additional disruption affecting routes between Llandrindod, Hereford and Shrewsbury on Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 May.

The work is aimed at readying the line for the introduction of new Class 197 trains, which are expected to begin operating on the route later this year. These trains are already in use elsewhere across the Wales and Borders network, offering increased capacity and improved passenger comfort.

Travellers across mid-Wales and the Borders are being urged to plan ahead, with services between Aberystwyth, Shrewsbury, Llandrindod and Hereford all subject to temporary changes. Rail replacement buses will be in operation throughout the works, including dedicated provision for school and college journeys along affected sections.

The programme includes a wide range of upgrades designed to improve reliability and safety across the route. Key works involve:

• Track renewal at Montgomery
• Level crossing renewals at Llanidloes Road, Caersws and Llanbadarn Fawr
• Bridge refurbishment work in Shrewsbury
• Land and drainage improvements near Dol-y-Bont, Fronfraith and Llanbadarn
• General maintenance and vegetation management across multiple locations

Despite the scale of the works, the schedule has been designed to limit long-term disruption, with the line expected to fully reopen in time for the May half term.

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said,

“We know this will be a disruptive period for customers travelling across mid-Wales and the borders, and we’d like to thank everyone for their patience while these essential improvements are carried out. With different sections of the railway closed on different days between 8 and 22 May, it’s really important that customers travelling between Aberystwyth, Pwllheli, Shrewsbury, Hereford and Llandrindod plan ahead and check their journey before travelling, using our website or app. These upgrades are a vital step towards introducing our brand-new Class 197 trains on the Cambrian line later this year, which will bring improved comfort and capacity for customers.”

Gwyn Rees, Programme Director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said,

“These essential upgrades will help us maintain a safe and reliable railway for passengers and freight services across mid Wales. We’ve carefully planned this work to minimise disruption wherever possible with the line due to fully reopen in time for the May half term. We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carry out these important improvements.”

Image: Transport for Wales