Media centre

Tuesday 26 May 2020

Network Rail begins biggest restoration of Barmouth Viaduct in its history

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Barmouth Viaduct will undergo a £25m upgrade to protect it for local people and visitors in the future.

The work to the Grade II* listed structure will include replacing a large number of the timber and metal elements of the viaduct, as well as replacing the entire length of track.

Bill Kelly, Network Rail’s Route Director for Wales and Borders, said:

“Barmouth Viaduct is one of the most celebrated and recognisable structures in Wales and is the only major timber-built bridge still in use.

“We are investing £25m to give Barmouth Viaduct the biggest upgrade in its history, protecting our industrial heritage and ensuring this vital transport link can continue to serve local people and visitors, when the time comes, for generations to come.

“We have been working closely with Cadw, Gwynedd County Council and other stakeholders over several years to develop our plans. I want to reassure the local community that we have adapted these plans to make sure we are following Government guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic.” 

Secretary of State for Wales Simon Hart said:

“The Barmouth Viaduct is an iconic part of Wales’ railway heritage and I am pleased that it is benefitting from a portion of the £2 billion UK Government investment in the Wales and Borders network to preserve and upgrade it. The upgrades by Network Rail will secure the important link between Machynlleth and Pwllheli and protect a popular part of the Wales coastal route.

“Together with the £8.5 billion investment in Great Western Rail’s Intercity Express trains and electrification between London Paddington and south Wales, and upgrades to North Wales railway lines, the UK Government is delivering improvements in rail infrastructure and improving journeys for passengers in every part of Wales.”

Ken Skates, Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales, said:

“I have seen for myself how important the viaduct is to the community so this is welcome investment. As well as being an important transport link it is historically significant infrastructure, and I look forward to seeing these plans taken forward.”

James Price, Transport for Wales CEO, said:

“I’m delighted that Network Rail are making this major investment in safeguarding the future of this iconic structure and the Cambrian Coast Line. This investment sits alongside our own investment in transforming services throughout the Wales and Borders network, including brand new trains and extra services for the Cambrian Coast Line in the years to come. 

“We’re working collaboratively to ensure minimal disruption for our passengers while work takes place. As our services will be affected, it’s important for anyone travelling on the Cambrian Line to check before you travel, in case of any changes to our timetables. You can do this on the TfW Rail website www.tfwrail.wales or the TfW app.”

Liz Saville Roberts MP said:

“I am pleased Network Rail has set-out a firm timetable to restore this iconic structure, the only major timber railway bridge that is still in use today.

“This substantial investment will safeguard Barmouth Viaduct for future generations, strengthening ties among communities along the Cambrian coast and serving as a vital tourism link.

“None of this would have been possible without effective cooperation between partner agencies and local stakeholders. I look forward to seeing how the work progresses.”

To reduce the impact of the work, it has been carefully planned to take place over three years, with three shorter full closures of the 19^th century viaduct, rather than one longer full closure. The first closure is planned for this autumn, when the restoration of the bridge’s timber elements begins. Preparation work will begin in June.

Network Rail has adapted the plans to make sure work can be delivered safely in line with Government guidance.

Members of the local community are invited to dial into a conference call with the project team to find out more about the work and ask questions. The call will take place on:

Wednesday 3 June at 6pm on Freephone 0800 012 1325 (passcode: 591 166#)

Further information about the project can be found here: www.networkrail.co.uk/barmouth.

Barmouth Viaduct facts

• Located on the Cambrian Coast line, between Pwllheli and Machynlleth, in Gwynedd County Council and Snowdonia National Park.​
• Built in 1864 across the Mawddach​
• Grade II* listed
• Barmouth is the only major timber ‐built bridge still in use
• 820m in length: 700m timber/120m metallic​
• Originally built with a drawbridge on the northern end, but this was replaced with a steel swing bridge in 1900.