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Sunday 16 Nov 2025

Storm Claudia – Hereford – Newport update

Region & Route:

Wales & Western: Wales & Borders

Since Friday 14 November, alongside our colleagues at Transport for Wales, we’ve worked tirelessly to re-instate the track between Hereford and Newport, where the overflow of water from the River Monnow, which was announced as National Emergency, saw the river reach its highest ever recorded levels. This washed away the track stone near a level crossing at Pandy, leaving the railway tracks suspended by a two metre void.

The rock armour in place from our resilience work in 2021, saw several boulders which alone weigh eight tonnes each, moved by the sheer force of the water from River Monnow, which you can see in the pictures attached, however the £4million investment on this line in 2021 to reduce extreme weather impacts has held true to its commitment, preventing further spread and damage to the area.

To add to intricacy of the situation, many local roads have also been flooded, which meant moving materials to site using arctic lorries to deliver specialist plant and 500 tonnes of ballast (track stone) is an enormous and very complex challenge.

Our teams continue to work around the clock, with over 100 skilled people in attendance, we have already re-laid 150tonnes of ballast, with another 300tonnes to go.

Thank you to all our passengers and freight operators for your patience while we do all we can to get the railway open again as quickly and safely as possible for passengers and freight – we’re working towards the line re-opening by Tuesday 18 November. 

Transport for Wales travel update -

The railway between Newport and Hereford remains closed until at least Tuesday, with limited rail services running between Hereford and Shrewsbury, and limited replacement road transport so we cannot guarantee customers can reach their destination.

Conwy valley line has now reopened

Passengers with tickets dated 14, 15. 16 and 17 November can travel at no extra cost on Monday 18.

Please continue to check your travel plans http://journeycheck.com/tfwrail/ and @national rail