Media centre

Wednesday 25 Oct 2017

Railway upgrade will improve River Artro viaduct

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail is carrying out improvement work to the River Artro viaduct in Gwynedd as part of the Railway Upgrade Plan which will help accommodate growing passenger numbers.

The innovative £1.4m project will jack the tracks, to carry out repairs to the timber viaduct underneath. This method will save time and minimise disruption to passengers. The technique will also be used during the upcoming refurbishment of Barmouth viaduct, the longest viaduct in Wales, which has just celebrated its 150^th birthday.

Andrew Sperring, programme manager for Network Rail in Wales and the borders, said: “The railway is vital to economic growth. Our essential renewal work to the River Artro viaduct will ensure it remains safe and reliable long into the future.

“This project will play a key role in our improvement work to Barmouth viaduct, allowing us to use our new bridge lift techniques on a similar structure.

“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 Arriva Trains Wales to keep passengers moving throughout the work and passengers are advised to check before travelling. ”

The upgrade work started in September and is scheduled to be finished by the end of this year. A bus replacement service will be in operation between Pensarn and Llanbedr between Saturday 28 October and Sunday 5 November, passengers are advised to check before travelling at www.nationalrail.co.uk

Network Rail is doing everything possible to minimise the impact on the local community by carrying out the work as quickly and safely as possible. 

For more information, please telephone our 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or email us at CRWales@networkrail.co.uk