Media centre

Thursday 16 Jan 2020

Passengers reminded to plan ahead of railway upgrade work between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail and Transport for Wales are reminding passengers that buses will replace trains between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock from Monday 20 January to Friday 7 February 2020 (inclusive), as essential planned work is carried out.

Work being delivered while the railway is closed includes:

• Rock netting at Pembroke Tunnel (safeguards against rockfall onto the track);
• Vegetation management across several stretches on the line (the removal of hazardous and potentially hazardous vegetation and trees to allow the safe passage of trains);
• Geotechnical survey work; (assessing earthworks and foundations);
• Track replacement work.

Transport for Wales is operating an all-day rail replacement service between the two stations Monday to Friday and a limited service on weekends. Passengers are advised to check before travelling and more information can be found at: https://tfwrail.wales/sites/tfwrail.wales/files/2019-12/0120%20January%20TfW%20Changes%20to%20TT%20Bilingual.pdf.

Bethan Jelfs, Customer Delivery Director for Transport for Wales Rail Services said:

“Network Rail’s essential work in west Wales will impact on our services between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock over the coming weeks, so customers need to be aware of how this may affect their travel.

“We are working closely with Network Rail to keep disruption to a minimum and I would like to take this opportunity in advance to thank our customers for their patience and understanding whilst these essential maintenance works are being carried out.

“As always we advise customers to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys wherever possible.”

Bill Kelly, Network Rail’s route director for Wales and Borders, said:

“There is never a good time to close the railway, but this work cannot be delivered safely while trains are running. I’d like to thank passengers for bearing with us while we deliver this important work that will reduce the likelihood of future unplanned closures which we know are particularly disruptive for passengers.