Passengers travelling to and from Cardiff this coming weekend are being advised to check their journey plans in advance, as essential overnight engineering works will cause disruption between 19–21 July.

Network Rail will be carrying out critical upgrades between Cardiff Central and Newport, designed to improve the safety and reliability of the railway. The maintenance will involve renewing rails, sleepers and track stone, as well as servicing switches and crossings, which are key to directing trains between tracks.

To carry out the work safely, the section of line will be closed overnight from 1am on Sunday 20 July until 2:30am on Monday 21 July, resulting in several service amendments and replacement buses.


Service Changes

Saturday 19 July

The 20:30 Manchester Piccadilly to Cardiff Central will terminate at Hereford. A replacement bus will run from Hereford to Cardiff Central.

The 23:18 Cardiff Central to Gloucester will not operate. A replacement bus will cover the full journey between Cardiff Central and Gloucester.

Sunday 20 July

The 09:30 Newport to Milford Haven will start from Cardiff Central. A replacement bus will depart Newport at 09:14 to connect passengers with the train in Cardiff.

The 09:53 Cardiff Central to Manchester Piccadilly will start from Hereford. A replacement bus will run from Cardiff Central to Hereford.

Services between South Wales and Bristol will also be affected on Sunday 20 July due to separate drainage and track work in the Bristol area:

Until around 11:30, trains between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour or Exeter St Davids will start or terminate at Bristol Parkway, not Cardiff Central. Replacement buses will operate between Bristol Parkway and Newport.

Until around 16:00, trains between South Wales and London will divert via Gloucester, bypassing Bristol Parkway completely.