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Tuesday 23 Sep 2025

£1.4m upgrade: Major work planned on the Conwy Valley line to improve resilience ahead of autumn weather

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

Buses will replace trains during the four-week closure, from the end of September, to remove high-risk trees and improve safety.

Network Rail and Transport for Wales will carry out essential work on the Conwy Valley line this autumn to reduce the impact of storms and high winds on train services.

From Monday 29 September to Sunday 26 October, the line between Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno Junction will be closed for four weeks while engineers remove high-risk trees and vegetation close to the railway.

This proactive work will help prevent fallen trees and branches blocking the track during extreme weather. Over the last decade, the Conwy Valley line has been closed for more than 500 days due to storm damage and fallen trees - one of the highest rates of weather-related closures anywhere on the Wales and Borders network.

To keep passengers moving during the closure, buses will replace trains between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

This £1.4 million investment is part of a wider campaign to strengthen resilience against extreme weather caused by climate change, improve safety, and provide a more reliable railway for passengers and our freight customers. The work will also create a safe walkway for railway workers and ensure the line is fully compliant with safety standards.

Passengers are advised to check before travelling at www.journeycheck.com/tfwrail and allow extra time for journeys.

Nick Millington, Route Director at Network Rail Wales & Borders, said:

"The Conwy Valley line is one of the most vulnerable sections of railway in Wales, with storms and high winds frequently causing long closures.

 “By taking this proactive step to remove high-risk trees, we’re protecting the safe operation of the line for the future, reducing disruption for passengers and supporting communities who rely on this vital connection to North Wales and beyond."

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

 “We support the removal of trees where they are potentially dangerous to railway operations. This follows numerous incidents of trees on the line, particularly following strong winds. 

"This work shows the strength of our partnership with Network Rail in delivering long-term improvements for customers. While there will be some short-term disruption, once complete, the Conwy Valley line will be much more resilient to the challenges of autumn and winter weather."

We would like to thank passengers and local communities for their patience and understanding while this important work takes place.