The Heart of Wales Line is currently closed between Llanelli and Llanwrtyd. This is due to the ongoing repairs to the track following the derailment of a freight train near Llangennech.

How is this affecting the train service?

Trains are unable to run between Llanelli and Llanwrtyd.

Network Rail is working around the clock to complete the considerable repairs needed. The line is not expected to reopen until April 2021.

Alternative travel options:

Replacement buses:

Buses and minibuses will replace trains between Swansea and Llanwrtyd, from Monday to Saturday. The buses will be extended to run between Swansea and Llandrindod on Sundays.

For those stations with minibus-only access, customers may be required to change between larger buses and minibuses. A full size coach will operate a limited stop service and a minibus will serve all stations.

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility information, please use this page.

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

What happened?

On Wednesday 26 August, a freight train transporting diesel fuel derailed and caught fire in the Llangennech area. The remaining diesel from the wagons has been removed and the damaged wagons have all been removed from site by road. Network Rail are now repairing damage to the rail infrastructure. Regular updates from Network Rail can be found here and a short video can also be viewed here.

Also in August 2020, extreme weather resulted in damage to the railway in various locations between Llandrindod and Craven Arms. Repairs on this section of the line were completed in November 2020 and trains are able to run again between Llandrindod and Shrewsbury.

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner

Engineering work is taking place between Smethwick Galton Bridge and Wolverhampton, closing all lines before 12:00.

CrossCountry:

Trains running from Manchester Piccadilly towards Birmingham will be diverted, extending journey times by a few minutes. Southbound trains will not call at Wolverhampton. Replacement buses will run between Stafford and Wolverhampton.

London Northwestern Railway / West Midlands Railway:

Services that run between Liverpool Lime Street / Crewe / Shrewsbury / Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street / Walsall will be diverted, and will not call at intermediate stations between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street. Replacement buses will run between Wolverhampton and Birmingham New Street, serving intermediate stations.

It is not yet known how Avanti West Coast and Transport for Wales services will be affected by this engineering work.

Check before you travel:

If you are travelling with CrossCountry, London Northwestern Railway or West Midlands Railway, you can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Llandudno Junction and Holyhead, closing lines overnight from Monday evening until Saturday morning.

From 22:35 until 04:20 each night, buses will replace trains between Llandudno Junction and Bangor / Holyhead.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Bridgend and Cardiff Central via Barry, and between Cardiff Central and Rhymney overnight from Monday evening until Friday morning.

As a result, buses will replace trains between Bridgend and Cardiff Central (via Barry) / Rhymney between 21:05 and 05:15 each night.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Cardiff Central and Cardiff Bay / Rhymney, closing various lines overnight from Monday evening until Friday morning.

From 23:05 until 05:50 each night, buses will replace trains between Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Wilmslow and Crewe, closing some lines overnight from Monday evening until Friday morning.

From 22:50 until the end of service each night, buses will replace trains between Crewe and Stockport / Manchester Piccadilly.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Wrexham and Shotwick, closing all lines.

Buses will replace trains between Wrexham Central / Wrexham General and Bidston.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Port Talbot Parkway and Bridgend, closing all lines before 09:00.

Before approximately 09:00, buses will replace trains between Swansea and Cardiff Central.

Check before you travel:

Engineering work is taking place between Chester and Crewe, closing lines overnight from Tuesday evening until Friday morning.

Between 23:30 and 05:30 each night, buses will replace trains between Chester and Crewe.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Swansea and Carmarthen, closing various lines overnight from Monday evening until Friday morning.

As a result, buses will replace trains from 22:45 to 06:00 each night between Port Talbot Parkway / Swansea and Llanelli / Carmarthen.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Barry and Bridgend, closing lines overnight from Monday evening until Saturday morning.

After 21:20 each night, buses will replace trains between Barry and Bridgend.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Cardiff Central and Bridgend via Pontyclun, closing all lines.

Great Western Railway:

Trains will be diverted between Cardiff Central and Bridgend, extending journey times by up to 25 minutes. Services will be retimed, with services running from stations between Swansea and Bridgend up to 25 minutes earlier than usual.

Transport for Wales:

It is not yet known how Transport for Wales will be affected by this engineering work.

Check before you travel:

These changes are not currently shown in the National Rail Enquiries 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 this page.

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

Engineering work is taking place between Cardiff Central and Bridgend via Pontyclun, closing all lines.

Great Western Railway:

Until approximately 16:30, trains will either divert between Cardiff Central and Bridgend or start / terminate at Cardiff Central, journey times will be extended. Services will be retimed, customers may also use Transport for Wales services to complete their journey.

Transport for Wales:

Buses will replace trains between Cardiff Central and Bridgend.

Check before you travel:

You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner

Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus outbreak. Please check before your journey.

Replacement Bus Travel Advice:

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

You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.