Anyone catching a train between Swansea and Cardiff or London this weekend faces a slower journey and fewer trains, because the main line between Cardiff and Bridgend is shut.
Network Rail is closing the route via Pontyclun from 1.20am on Saturday 19 September until 4.05am on Monday 21 September. It shuts again over the weekends of 26 September and 17 October.
Trains will still run, but they will be sent the long way round through Barry and the Vale of Glamorgan without stopping, which adds time to every journey.
What it means for Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot passengers this weekend
Great Western Railway’s London Paddington to Swansea service is cut to one train an hour, with longer journey times.
On Saturday, the 03:56 Swansea to Paddington leaves two minutes early, at 03:54. The 06:54 Swansea to Paddington will not run from Swansea and starts from Bristol Parkway at 08:25. The 19:18 Paddington to Swansea terminates at Bristol Parkway.
On Sunday, the 19:20 Carmarthen to Paddington leaves Carmarthen 35 minutes early, at 18:45.
Transport for Wales will run one train an hour between Cardiff and Bridgend via Barry, calling only at Barry, Rhoose Cardiff International Airport and Llantwit Major. Every two hours, that train carries on to and from Swansea.
Maesteg trains will run only between Maesteg and Bridgend. Replacement buses cover the stops between Cardiff and Bridgend via Pontyclun.
Separately, on Sunday morning buses replace all trains between Carmarthen and Swansea before 10:30, because of work at Carmarthen.
Late trains diverted all next week, and early starts from Swansea by bus
From Monday 21 to Thursday 24 September the line also shuts overnight. The 20:48, 21:48 and 22:49 from Paddington to Swansea will be diverted and reach Bridgend and every stop beyond later than normal. Transport for Wales trains after 22:20 go via Barry.
From Tuesday to Friday, the 03:46 Swansea to Paddington leaves eight minutes early, at 03:38.
There is separate overnight work in the Swansea area on the same nights. The 18:35 Shrewsbury to Swansea will terminate at Llanelli, with a bus on to Swansea. The 21:07 Pembroke Dock to Cardiff and the 23:10 Cardiff to Carmarthen will not run via Swansea, with buses in their place.
On Tuesday to Friday mornings, the 05:43 Swansea to Manchester starts from Cardiff, and the 05:13 to Llandovery and 06:00 to Pembroke Dock start from Llanelli. Replacement buses leave Swansea earlier than the usual train times to connect.
The next two closures, and a Swansea to Carmarthen shutdown in between
On 26 and 27 September, GWR trains to and from Swansea will be retimed up to 30 minutes earlier than usual and diverted via Barry. Transport for Wales will run the same reduced pattern as this weekend.
On 17 and 18 October, the GWR changes are the same. Most Transport for Wales trains from Cardiff to west Wales will terminate at Swansea, with a separate service running onwards.
In between, on 10 and 11 October, no trains will run between Swansea and Carmarthen at all, with buses replacing them.
What Network Rail is doing between Cardiff and Bridgend
The two September closures are for track renewal between Pontsarn and Llanharan, along with vegetation clearance, and rail and signalling testing. In October engineers will renew track between Cardiff West Junction and St Fagans and between Miskin and Pontyclun, replace signalling and points, and repair structures near Peterston.
Martin Taylor, Network Rail’s chief infrastructure officer for Wales and Borders, said: “We’re sorry for the disruption this will cause and would like to thank passengers and our lineside neighbours for their patience while we complete these essential improvements.”
Passengers are advised to check before travelling with National Rail Enquiries, the Transport for Wales journey planner or GWR.
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