Major railway line to close for a month as work is carried out

A major stretch of railway line will close for a month with passengers warned to expect disruption.

Engineers will work between Chester and Holyhead on Anglesey, renewing track and other infrastructure.

To allow the work to be completed, the North Wales Coast line will close for four weeks from Saturday 9 January until Saturday 6 February 2027.

Network Rail's Emma Osborn called the £25m being spent a "once-in-a-generation investment", admitting it would cause "temporary disruption" to passengers.

But some passengers said it would be a "pain" for commuters and other rail users.

Osborn said "years' worth of complex work" would be brought together into one intensive programme.

This would mean it could be delivered more efficiently without a prolonged series of disruptive weekend closures.

"The long-term benefits for passengers and freight customers will far outweigh this temporary disruption, with a safer, more reliable railway that is better equipped to support the increased number of services now running across North Wales," she added.

The line will be closed for three weeks from Saturday 9 January, between Chester and Holyhead, including the Conwy Valley line and Llandudno Junction to Llandudno.

During the fourth week of the improvement works, it will just be the stretch between Llandudno Junction and Holyhead that will be closed.

Rail replacement services will operate during the closure, with details expected to be confirmed in autumn 2026.

Bangor University student Scott Walker said the disruption would be "really annoying" as he travels in by train from Deganwy, Conwy county.

"It's a simple 20 minutes on the train normally but the buses are an hour, hour and a half, so the buses are going to be a pain," he said.

"And I didn't know anything about it so they are clearly not spreading it around.

"It could be completely necessary and it needs to be done right now but I'd like to imagine that's the sort of thing that could be done in quieter hours or throughout the night."

Rachel, from Tamworth in Staffordshire and who was visiting her son at university, said the disruption could be an issue for a "lot of people who don't drive and rely on the train".

"I know they are putting on buses but it just extends your journey," she said.

Kieran Lynch, who described himself as a regular train passenger, said the work would be an "inconvenience" for travellers.

"I'm not an expert but I presume they have experts and if this is their advice, who am I to challenge it?"

• Renewing track through the Grade I-listed Conwy Tubular Railway Bridge, where the existing track dates back to 1978
• Major track and drainage improvements in Bodorgan Tunnel, replacing infrastructure dating back to 1972 and helping reduce the risk of flooding
• Track renewal and ground improvements at Penmaenbach, where sections of track were last renewed in 1986
• Track and points improvements at Holyhead and Llandudno
• Platform improvements at Llandudno Junction
• Work at four level crossings, east of Bangor
• Around £1.4m of vegetation management across nine locations, alongside extensive maintenance throughout the route
• Two new fully accessible footbridges at Prestatyn and Abergele, supporting the closure of four high-risk level crossings

Transport for Wales' planning and performance director Colin Lea said "essential track maintenance", alongside tunnel drainage, and new accessible footbridges will "help deliver a more reliable service and better stations" for passengers.

Passengers planning to travel over the period of works in early 2027 are advised to check the Avanti West Coast and National Rail Enquiries websites for the latest travel information.