Media centre

Tuesday 31 Jan 2017

Dovey Junction station to close for four days as work to upgrade the railway continues

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Dovey Junction railway station will temporarily close from Saturday 4 to Wednesday 8 February as essential upgrade work to Afon Llyfnant rail bridge, on the approach to Dovey Junction railway station, is delivered as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

Afon Llyfnant rail bridge – which carries trains over the Llyfnant river - will undergo a full refurbishment during the closure.  Network Rail engineers will use innovative materials to strengthen the ageing wooden structure and increase its serviceable life.

Dave Stanbury, route programme director (works delivery), for Network Rail Wales said: “This upgrade work will be delivered as part of our commitment to maintain a safe and reliable railway. Though I understand that closing Dovey Junction station is not ideal, it is essential we do so to ensure the safety of the public whilst this work takes place.

“I would like to thank passengers and the local community for bearing with us while we work to maintain and upgrade the railway in mid-Wales.”

General maintenance and follow-up work will continue on the bridge until early March, but train services are unlikely to be affected.

Notes to editors

Trains will not operate between Aberystwyth and Machynlleth stations from Saturday 4 February until the first morning service on Wednesday 8 February.

A rail replacement bus service will be in operation for the duration of the station’s closure, which will take passengers directly from Aberystwyth to Machynlleth, without stopping at Dovey Junction station.

Services will still operate between Machynlleth and Pwllheli stations, but due to a minor rail diversion these services will not stop at Dovey Junction.