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Friday 15 Nov 2024

Engineering work between Cardiff and Bridgend to affect journeys on three Sundays in November and December

Region & Route:

Wales & Western

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

Passengers are urged to check before they travel between Bridgend and Cardiff on three Sundays in November and December, when Network Rail will be carrying out essential engineering work.

The South Wales Main Line between Bridgend and Cardiff will be closed all day on Sundays 24 November, 1 and 8 December.

Network Rail engineers will be working at two locations:

• near St Fagans level crossing, between Pontyclun and Cardiff Central stations
• Squires Bridge between Llanharan and Pontyclun stations

They will be replacing more than 1km of track at St Fagans over the course of the three Sundays (355m per weekend), as well as installing more than 5,000 tonnes of new ballast (track stone) and more than 1,600 new sleepers.

While work is in progress, St Fagans level crossing will be closed, with a diversion in place for road vehicles. The crossing will be closed from midnight on Sunday 24 November to midnight on Monday 25 November, and for the same hours on both 1-2 and 8-9 December.

At Squires Bridge, engineers are carrying out drainage work, which requires a continuous closure of Llantrisant West level crossing from 11.30pm on Saturday 23 November until 5.30am Monday 25 November, and the same hours on Saturday 30 November to Monday 2 December. 

On all three weekends, trains between Bridgend and Cardiff that usually run on the South Wales Main Line will be diverted via the Vale of Glamorgan Line, adding around 30 minutes to the average journey. Buses will replace trains for stations between Bridgend and Cardiff on the South Wales Main Line (Pencoed, Llanharan and Pontyclun).

Great Western Railway trains to and from Carmarthen will run between Swansea and Carmarthen only. Trains to and from Swansea, Neath, Port Talbot Parkway and Bridgend will be retimed to run earlier or later than usual.

Transport for Wales trains that usually run via Pontyclun will be retimed to start earlier or later than usual and will be diverted to run via Barry. These trains will also run to an amended timetable.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “We are working really hard to improve train service punctuality and this essential work is a part of our commitment to do that.

“We recognise there is never a good time to close the railway, but we have planned the renewals to minimise disruption as much as possible.

“I would like to thank passengers for their patience and urge them to check their journeys before travelling.”