Media centre

Tuesday 16 May 2023

Rail passengers urged to check before travelling between Cardiff and Newport following severe lineside fire

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

Minor disruption continues as Network Rail engineers work around the clock to repair extensive damage to signalling equipment and overhead wires.

Passengers travelling in south Wales are being urged to check before they travel until the end of May following a fire which caused damage to signalling equipment and overhead electric wires.

Work by Network Rail's engineers overnight means disruption is now minimal - a few minutes per journey - and the restoration of the overhead cables means electric trains can also run again, which will be a big help before and after the Beyoncé concert at the Principality Stadium, in Cardiff, on Wednesday 17 May.

However, passengers are being advised to check before they travel until the end of the month, as the signalling equipment will take longer to fix and minor disruption is likely to continue.

The blaze was reported in the early hours of Monday 15 May, at Marshfield, between Newport and Cardiff, and the railway was shut immediately before two lines were able to reopen, later that morning.

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

Nick Millington, route director at Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “We're very sorry for the disruption passengers are facing between Cardiff and Newport following a fire which caused severe damage to signalling equipment and overhead cables.

“The success of our engineering teams overnight means disruption is now minimal - a few minutes per journey - and the restoration of the overhead cables means electric trains can also run again, which will be a big help before and after the Beyoncé concert in Cardiff, tomorrow night.

“As work continues to repair the signalling equipment over the coming weeks, we are urging passengers to please check before travelling with their train operator.” 

Richard Rowland, GWR Customer Service & Operations Director, said: “We’re asking customers to check before they travel and allow more time for their journeys both before and after the concert.

“Safety of our customers is of the uppermost importance. Trains do get very busy and there will be a need to queue outside the station following the gig. Customers travelling from further afield are reminded to check the time of the last trains home.”

CrossCountry’s Regional Director, Huw Margetts, said: “We’re grateful to Network Rail colleagues for quickly getting the lines open again, which will be a big help to those going to Cardiff by train for the concert on Wednesday. However journeys may take a little longer, and with a limited service in the evening we’re asking everybody to check their journey home carefully.”

Elliott Swallow, Head of Current Operations at TfW, said: “We’re advising our customers to plan their journeys carefully for services in both directions between Cardiff - Newport as disruption and delays are expected as a result of the displacement of train crew and trains.

“This could result in reduced capacity on some services and while we’re working hard to minimise disruption as much as we possibly can, we’re expecting an impact on services until 24 May at the earliest.”