Monday 5 Feb 2018
Railway upgrade to improve Cambrian Line
- Region & Route:
- Wales & Western: Wales & Borders
- | Wales & Western
Network Rail is carrying out improvement work to the Cambrian Line, between Newtown and Aberystwyth, as part of its Railway Upgrade Plan. The £7.25m project will see 6km of track renewed over a period of 8 weeks.
The track, which is currently bolted together, will be removed and replaced with a new continuous welded rail, resulting in a reduction in noise for those living near the railway, and a better quality ride for passengers. The work forms part of a longer term strategy to remove jointed track along the Cambrian Line.
Andy Thomas, route managing director for Network Rail in Wales and Borders said: “The route is vital to the local economy and provides a critical link for rail customers in mid and north west Wales. Our upgrade work to the Cambrian Line will ensure it remains reliable long into the future.
“I would like to thank the local community for their patience while we carry out this work as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan and reassure them that we are doing all we can to keep disruption to a minimum. We are working with our partners Arriva Trains Wales to keep passengers moving via a bus replacement service and passengers are advised to check before travelling. ”
Bethan Jelfs, Customer Services Director for Arriva Trains Wales, said: “The Cambrian line is an incredibly valuable part of the Welsh network so to see such a significant investment to protect it for the future is excellent news. We have worked closely with our partners in Network Rail to ensure this work causes as little disruption to our customers as possible and we encourage everyone to check their journeys ahead of travelling.”
Work will take place during the evenings and overnight, starting on 5 February, affecting some of the later services. The line will also be closed on Saturday 17 February and Sunday 18 February as well as Saturday 10 March and Sunday 11 March, with a bus replacement service in operation. Passengers are advised to check before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk.
For more information, please telephone our 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or email us at CRWales@networkrail.co.uk
Notes to Editors
The last weekday service between Newtown and Aberystwyth will be operated by a rail replacement bus from 5 February for eight weeks
Rail replacement buses will operate for all services between Newtown and Aberystwyth on Saturday 17 February, Sunday 18 February, Saturday 10 March and Sunday 11 March.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office - Ffion Pocock
07730352487
Ffion.pocock@networkrail.co.uk
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We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
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