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Network Rail and the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), with support from Passenger Focus, today announced an initiative to further reduce the need for replacement buses at weekends and bank holidays.

The initiative will benefit passengers in Wales travelling via the Great Western main line and West Coast main line (connecting services).  

The Conwy Valley railway line, closed owing to flooding, is scheduled to reopen to passengers on Monday, 30 November.

The ‘Harrington Hump’ is shortly to arrive at Aberdovey station, where passengers will be the first in Wales to benefit from this new addition to the platform that makes it easier for them to get on and off trains.

- Biggest investment and improvement work in the Severn Tunnel Junction area in this generation.

- Rail bottleneck at Severn Tunnel Junction untangled and a disused platform brought back to passenger use.

- State-of-the-art signalling technology adopted for the first time in Wales, creating jobs for the region.

- £3.25bn to be invested nationwide over next five years
- Passengers to have their say
- 120+ stations in Wales to be improved

“I thought the train would slow down to let me through”. 

“Lights?  No, I don’t bother looking at them, I only stop when the barriers start coming down – I wouldn’t want to damage the car.”

“I thought that the train driver was giving way to me when he sounded his horn”

These are just a few of the reality-stretching excuses given by people jumping lights or weaving round barriers at level crossings, as to why they flouted the law and risked lives in order to save a few seconds.

Train services between Bristol – Newport and Gloucester – Newport are now back to normal. 

As the year-long countdown for the Ryder Cup begins, work to build the new eco-friendly station at Newport is also gathering pace.