Shropshire to Mid Wales rail line to close for five days next week

A rail route between Shropshire and Mid Wales will be closed for five days.

The line from Craven Arms to Llandrindod Wells will be shut from 7am on Monday to 7pm on Friday (September 28 to October 2) with a rail replacement service in place.

A number of services between Shrewsbury and Crewe will also be affected, with buses replacing trains between 11.40pm and 5.30am each night.

The closure is to allow Network Rail to carry out what is described as a “programme of essential work”.

An update from Transport for Wales said the work “will help maintain the safety and reliability of services while supporting the long-term future of the Heart of Wales Line”.

During the week Network Rail teams will be working at several locations along the line, including between Bucknell, Knucklas, Llangynllo, Penybont and Llandrindod Wells.

They will replace track timbers between Bucknell and Llangynllo, renew railway sleepers and timbers between Craven Arms Junction and Llandrindod Wells, carry out survey work at Penybont Tunnel, inspect Llangynllo Tunnel and carry out repairs and vegetation work.

The work will also require overnight road closures at several level crossings next week.

They include Brynmarlais level crossing, between Llandybie and Bonllwyn from 10.05pm on Monday to 5.30am on Tuesday; Llandadog level crossing from 9.45pm on Tuesday to 5.30am on Wednesday; Llandybie level crossing from 10.05pm on Wednesday to 5.30am on Thursday; and Tirydail level crossing at Ammanford from 10.05pm on Thursday to 5.30am on Friday.

A spokesman for Transport for Wales said: “Passengers are urged to check before they travel, as Transport for Wales (TfW) will operate rail replacement bus services between Shrewsbury and Llandrindod Wells throughout the closure.

“Rail services will continue to run between Swansea and Llandrindod. A small number of Shrewsbury to Crewe services will also be affected, with buses replacing trains between Shrewsbury and Crewe between 11.40pm and 5.30am each night.

“TfW will run a combination of express bus services and minibuses. Express services will call at Shrewsbury, Craven Arms, Knighton and Llandrindod only, while minibuses will serve all stations along the route.

“From Monday, September 28, to Thursday, October 1, there will be five departures each day from Shrewsbury and six from Llandrindod Wells, with services running approximately every three hours.

“On Friday, October 2, there will be four departures from Shrewsbury and five from Llandrindod Wells, running approximately every three hours. Rail services are expected to resume after 7pm on Friday, October 2, with standby buses remaining available to support customers if required.

“Journey times may be longer than usual, so customers are encouraged to allow extra time and plan ahead.”

“The latest travel information can be found through Transport for Wales website.“