Network Rail engineers are to start vital track and viaduct work between Machynlleth and Shrewsbury on the Cambrian line on Saturday, 06 May.

A replacement bus service will be running throughout with refurbishment work taking place on Severn and Carno railway viaduct near Caersws, Powys.

The 70-metre-long timber viaduct was first constructed in 1860 and then reconstructed twice in 1906 and 1927. It connects the Cambrian Line over where the rivers Severn and Carno meet, holding up the single-line railway with its eleven spans.

Network Rail and contractor, Amco Giffen, will completely replace timber beams on spans four, ten and eleven, while carrying out remedial work on the rest of the bridge, including the replacement of metallic straps and fixings.

Once complete, the work on the viaduct and the track will be done just in time for the busy summer period, ensuring regular passengers and those visiting the stunning area will experience reduced delays and ensure a safe, reliable service.


Preparation work has now started in Newtown and further west in Caersws before the work.

Network Rail engineers alongside contractors, Colas Rail, will be working continuously around Newtown station to remove and replace the track to help make passenger journeys more reliable.

It includes 2,000 metres of new track, five new sets of railway points (which allows trains to move from one track to another) and 300 metres of new drainage (to prevent washouts and flooding).

Road-to-rail vehicles and unloading trains will be travelling from Abermule to Newtown station throughout the work. This work will help allow the new rolling stock from Transport for Wales to be able to use the station. During the work at Newtown, the station car park will be closed for a month so that we can carry out the work safely.

Buses will be replacing trains between Shrewsbury and Machynlleth from Saturday 6 May to Sunday 21 May. Passengers are being asked to check www.journeycheck.com/tfwrail/ before travelling during this time.

Work will continue after the 16-day-block in May, but will be carried out during the night when trains aren't running.

Gareth Yates, project manager at Network Rail Wales & Borders for Severn and Carno viaduct renewal, said: "This viaduct is over 160 years old so further work is needed to strengthen and extend the life of the structure to prevent emergency closures of the line.

"This work has been planned before the busy summer period, to minimise disruption to passengers visiting the stunning scenery along the Cambrian line."