Media centre

Tuesday 19 Jul 2016

Normal weekend train services to resume between Newport and Shrewsbury following railway upgrade work

Region & Route:

| Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Passengers have been thanked for their patience following the completion of railway upgrade work between Newport and Shrewsbury.

Network Rail’s orange army completed heavy maintenance work, track renewals and signaling upgrades during six consecutive weekends of work which concluded on Sunday, 17 July, part of the company’s railway upgrade plan to provide a bigger, better railway for passengers and businesses.

Weekend bus replacement services had been in operation during the upgrade works which included a complete track renewal of the line at Shrewsbury Station platform 4, as well as signaling upgrade work in and around Hereford station.

Normal service will resume for train passengers travelling between Newport and Shrewsbury during the weekends following the railway upgrade works.

Paul McMahon, Wales route managing director for Network Rail, said: “These essential improvement works will mean better, more reliable journeys for the growing number of passengers using the railway. I would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding while we completed this essential upgrade work.”

An Arriva Trains Wales spokesperson said: “We are obviously really pleased that our normal services that play such an important role in connecting customers not only from South Wales to Manchester direct but local journeys along the route will now be fully reinstated on the weekends.  There is a lot going on in the area over the forthcoming summer holidays, and we look forward to welcoming back our weekend customers to our fast and accessible services as they get out and about enjoying themselves.”