Major programme of improvements: buses replace trains between Chester and Holyhead, and between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog from Saturday 9 January to Friday 5 February 

Route(s) affected

Avanti West Coast between London Euston and Holyhead

Transport for Wales between Cardiff Central / Manchester Airport and Holyhead, and between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog

Description

Engineering work is taking place in the Holyhead / Llandudno Junction areas, closing all lines. Background information on the work can be found below.

Avanti West Coast:

From Saturday 9 to Friday 29 January:

Trains will run between London Euston and Chester only. A replacement bus service will run between Chester and Holyhead.

Transport for Wales:

Buses will replace trains between:

• Chester and Llandudno Junction / Holyhead

• Blaenau Ffestiniog and Llandudno

Background information:

More than £25m will be invested in the North Wales Coast railway as Network Rail delivers a major programme of improvements to boost reliability, capacity and safety on this vital route.

The once-in-a-generation programme will see engineers working at locations across the railway between Chester and Holyhead, renewing track and other infrastructure - some of which has been in place for more than 50 years.

The £25m investment includes:

• Renewing track through Grade I-listed Conwy Tubular Railway Bridge

• Major track and drainage improvements in Bodorgan Tunnel

• Track renewal and ground improvements at Penmaenbach

• Track and points improvements at Holyhead and Llandudno

• Platform improvements at Llandudno Junction

• Work at four level crossings, east of Bangor

• Around £1.4m of vegetation management across nine locations

• Two new fully accessible footbridges at Prestatyn and Abergele, supporting the closure of four high-risk level crossings

The work will be delivered by rail using 22 engineering trains and specialist on-track machinery, bringing in more than 3,000 concrete sleepers and 9,000 tonnes of ballast, while around 9,800 tonnes of spoil will be removed for recycling and re-use on future railway projects. More project information and comment is available on the Network Rail website.

Check before you travel:

If you are travelling on or before Friday 29 January, you can plan your journey using the National Rail Journey Planner.

If you are travelling with Transport for Wales on or after Saturday 30 January, these changes are not currently shown in the National Rail Journey Planner, please check back nearer to the time of travel.

Replacement bus travel advice:

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use our Rail Replacement Services page.

You can find the pick-up and drop-off location of rail replacement services by checking station signage or by searching for your station on our Find a Station page.

Please be advised that replacement vehicles may be busier than usual, and you should allow extra time for your journey.