Media centre

Friday 28 Jul 2017

South Wales Railway Upgrade Update

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

| Wales & Western

Network Rail is reminding residents between Monmouthshire and Cardiff that modernisation work is taking place along the South Wales Mainline as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan.

Piling work will continue in South Wales for several months. This is the process of installing foundations for the steel masts and gantries that will carry electrified wires along the railway.

Andy Thomas, route managing director for Network Rail Wales, said: “Our railway is vital to economic prosperity, linking people, businesses and communities. We are working together with Arriva Trains Wales, Great Western Railway and other partners to improve services for passengers.

“We are continuing work between Monmouthshire and Cardiff as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan to prepare the railway for the overhead masts and wires that will power trains running on electricity. The new bi-mode trains, which can run on electric and diesel, will provide extra seats and faster services for thousands of passengers and a quieter and greener environment for communities living alongside the railway.

"I’d like to thank local residents for their patience while we carry out this upgrade work and reassure them that we are doing all we can to keep disruption to a minimum.”

Piling is a noisy activity as it involves driving cylindrical steel piles deep into the ground to provide a secure base for gantries. There can also be noise from vehicle movements as safety rules dictate that a horn must be sounded when moving vehicles in the vicinity of the railway.

Noise levels are dependent on the distance of homes from the train line and piling locations, which are installed every 50 to 60 metres. For safety reasons, the majority of piling will take place overnight when trains are not running and residents are advised to expect some disturbance whilst this work takes place.