Media centre

Thursday 5 Nov 2015

Rail improvement work between Chester and north Wales means changes to journeys in November

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Passengers travelling between Wrexham and Chester or Rhyl are advised to check before travelling this month as Network Rail carries out vital improvement work as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan.

Engineers will be working on the railway line near Chester as part of a Welsh Government-funded project to help provide faster and more frequent journeys for passengers between north and south Wales in the future. This will boost transport links and help to support growth in the economy.

This scheme will help to provide a safer and more reliable railway for passengers and communities on the north Wales border. It will also help to reduce delays to trains for commuters in Wrexham and Chester.

The work will have an impact on some train services between Wrexham-Chester and Wrexham-Rhyl:

• The railway will be closed between Wrexham and Rhyl, with rail replacement bus services operating on the weekends of 7/8 November and 14/15 November.
• The railway will be closed between Wrexham and Chester, with rail replacement bus services operating between Monday 9 and Friday 13 November.

James Jackson, route enhancement manager for Network Rail Wales, said: “The work we’re doing this month will pave the way for faster and more frequent journeys between north and south Wales as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan.It will also mean a more reliable railway for the growing number of commuters travelling to and from Wrexham and Chester.

“I’d like to thank passengers in advance for their patience and look forward to providing them with a better, more reliable railway.”

Once complete, the project will enable shorter end-to-end journey times between Holyhead and Cardiff, help to keep more trains on time in the Chester area, and will see four level crossings made safer at Green Lane (near Saltney), Balderton, Pulford and Broad-Oak (near Rossett).

The project to help deliver journey improvements between north Wales and Cardiff has involved track improvements to increase maximum speeds and “doubling” the track between Wrexham and Chester – specifically between Rossett Junction and Saltney Junction – so more trains can run. 

Passengers are reminded that the railway will be closed between Cardiff and Newport on the weekends of 7/8 and 14/15 November so that work can be carried out as part of a project to modernise the railway in South Wales. This includes replacing ageing signalling equipment, enhancing track layouts, building new platforms and improving stations. During these weekends, rail replacement bus services will operate.

Passengers are advised to check journey plans on train operators’ websites or by visiting www.nationalrail.co.uk. 

Members of the public requiring further information can call Network Rail’s 24-Hour national helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or email CRWales@networkrail.co.uk.