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Structural damage to the bridge between Pontarddulais and Hendy Junction means it is unsafe for trains to pass over the bridge.

Trains are unable to run between Llandrindod and Llanelli until repairs are complete. This may take up to 8 weeks. Road transport will be provided between Llanelli and Llandrindod.

Buses will run:
From Llanelli, calling at all stations to Llandrindod then continue to Shrewsbury, setting down at intermediate stations as required.
From Llandrindod to Swansea

Several Welsh stations are to lose train services for a "short time" because their platforms have raised social distancing concerns.

They are either too short or too curved to allow the opening of two train doors, Transport for Wales (TfW) said.
Services will no longer stop at Llanfairpwll and Valley on Anglesey, Conwy, Gilfach Fargoed in Caerphilly county or Sugar Loaf in Powys.

Err ... don't think so at Llanfairpwll at least - nice straight platform, plenty long enough to open at least 2 doors on each of 2 carriages, and perhaps more - see pictures at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfairpwll_railway_station .

From National Rail Service Disruptions (https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/251594.aspx)


Now - forgive my geography but why are trains unable to run between Llandrindod and Llandeilo?  As I recall, there are loops at Between Craven Arms and Llanelli at Llandrindod, Llanwrtyd and Llandeilo, and Pontardulais is between Llandeilo and Llanelli.    Could it be ... not that trains are unable to run as far as Llandeilo from the Shrewsbury / Craven Arms end, but that Transport for Wales are choosing not to do so?

This in addition to this BBC article (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-53276751?)


Err ... don't think so at Llanfairpwll at least - nice straight platform, plenty long enough to open at least 2 doors on each of 2 carriages, and perhaps more - see pictures at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanfairpwll_railway_station .

I'm getting the distinct feeling of porkies (or does that translate to sheepies) from Transport for Wales.  Changes for their operational convenience disguised under excuses which let them lay the blame elsewhere?

There is a reduced COVID service on the Heart of Wales Line at the moment (Sunday service) and the rwo trains in each direcrion which are running are both scheduled to change over crews with each other so it makes sense for the Shrewsbury crews from the North work to Llandod and return with the same unit.    The Carmarthen crews at the southern end would have to taxied past the block to Llandeilo or Pantyffynnon but wouldn't have a unit to work  with.

So as I suggested, it's not that they are unable to run trains over the 40 miles from Llandrindod to Llandeilo - it's that it's operationally convenient for them not to do so.

P.S. Why taxied?  Do train crew not lower themselves to using rail replacement buses  ;D

P.P.S. You get a unit onto the line from the Shrewsbury end ... and as you're back to through services from Shrewsbury to Llandeilo it changes over all the time anyway / no isolated unit away from base.

A railway line connecting two mid Wales towns has re-opened.

Train journeys along the Heart of Wales will now start and terminate at Llanwrtyd Wells instead of Llandrindod Wells.

Transport for Wales says replacement bus services will run between Llanwrtyd Wells and Llanelli until August 3 while work is carried out to fix a damaged bridge.

Worn timbers on a rail-over-river bridge at Pontarddulais was found to be unsafe, and the railway line will remain closed between Hendy Junction and Pontarddulais until all safety repairs are completed.

JimMorris 13th July 12:17 pm: That is all well and good but at the moment the service to Shrewsbury is laughable.

For example, I live in Knighton my earlies train to Llandrindod is 12.06 with a return at either 13.52 or 18.01,that isn't too bad but my earliest train to Shrewsbury is 14.30 which gets into Shrewsbury at 15.22 and latest return from Shrewsbury is 15.26 meaning only 4 minutes in Shrewsbury!! Meaning that any journey by public transport to Shrewsbury for hospital appointments etc. is virtually impossible. Surely transport for Wales could have looked at the situation and planned it better, a lot of people on the Heart of Wales line are reliant on this service as it is there only means of public transport to Shrwsbury. They have two carriages on the journey and I know for a fact that one day last week there were just THREE people on the train from Shrewsbury to Knighton

From County Times (https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18578844.heart-wales-closure-railway-line-llanwrtyd-llandrindod-reopens/)


Sometimes - and this is one - there is much to learn from the comments:

It is a difficult route to time trains over because of the long single line sections.

TFW have claimed the trains are for Essential Travel only rather than for the use of the general public,  something which has provoked much criticism.

Indeed.   However, if you just have a single train shuttling up and down, there's little risk of it conflicting with itself on the long single line section.



Not sure how ANY essential journeys either are met by 4 minutes in Shrewsbury.

I can't help wondering if much of the criticism would be allayed if the train ran an earlier round trip ... giving 4 hours for essential business in Shrewsbury, 4 or 8 hours in Llanwrtyd, 5 or 9 hours in Llandrindod.

The Heart of Wales line between Llanwrtyd Wells and Swansea closed in early July in order to fix a damaged bridge.

Worn timbers on a rail-over-river bridge at Pontarddulais was found to be unsafe, and the railway line was closed between Hendy Junction and Pontarddulais until all safety repairs were completed.

Today, (Monday, August 3) rail services between the two stations have resumed for essential travel only.

However, Sugar Loaf station near Llanwrtyd Wells and Hopton Heath station near Knighton remains temporarily closed as social distancing isn't possible due to the short platform length.

From the County Times (https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18624369.heart-wales-railway-line-llanwrtyd-swansea-reopens/)


Service the other stations remains so thin as to be (IMHO) useless for almost anything including essential travel.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/builthroadcovid.jpg)

On Wednesday 12 August, a number of landslips occurred along the route between Llandrindod and Shrewsbury, blocking the line.
There is currently no estimate on when the line will reopen.

Heart of Wales line closed as extreme weather floods railway and causes significant damage

Passengers using the Heart of Wales line are encouraged to check before they travel as the railway between Shrewsbury and Llandrindod Wells has been closed owing to extensive damage caused by extreme rainfall in mid-Wales on 12 and 13 August.

Near Knighton, the railway has been damaged at various sites including across a 350m stretch where ballast has been washed away and significant debris has been washed onto the track meaning it is completely buried in some areas.

Network Rail engineers are working around the clock to inspect and repair the damage and will confirm how long the closure will last as soon as possible. 

The closure means buses will replace trains between Shrewsbury and Llandrindod Wells with passengers advised to check before they travel at National Rail Enquiries or with Transport for Wales. 

Bill Kelly, Network Rail’s Wales route director, said: “We are sorry for the disruption this has caused to passengers who use the Heart of Wales line.

“We saw extreme rainfall for a prolonged period which has caused significant damage to sections of the railway and left debris across hundreds of metres of track.

“We are already working around the clock to repair the damage as quickly as possible and we will keep everyone updated with our progress.”

Description

Emergency services are dealing with a fire on a freight train near Llangennech which means the line between Llanelli and Llandrindod has been closed.

Additionally, due to the extreme weather conditions on Wednesday 12 August, the Heart of Wales line is also closed between Llandrindod Wells and Craven Arms until further notice.

Replacement bus info:
Buses will replace trains between Llanelli and Shrewsbury. These buses will call at Hopton Heath by request.

At about 23:15 hrs on 26 August 2020, train 6A11, the 21:52 hrs freight service from Robeston to Theale, conveying 25 tank wagons, each containing up to 75.5 tonnes of diesel or gas oil, derailed on the ‘Up District’ line near Llangennech, in Carmarthenshire. The derailment and the subsequent damage to the wagons resulted in a significant spillage of fuel and a major fire. The driver, who was unhurt, reported the accident to the signaller. Subsequent examination of the site revealed that a total of 10 wagons (positioned 3rd to 12th in the train) had derailed.

The fire was tackled by the fire service, who ordered the evacuation of local residents due to concerns for their safety. Local people have reported seeing a plume of flames and smoke, and the strong smell of fuel. Our investigation will seek to identify the causes of the derailment, and how these led to the fire. It will also consider any underlying management factors.

A major rail incident which sparked a massive fire and diesel spillage could affect journeys on the line until Christmas, says the Welsh Government's deputy transport minister.

Lee Waters said the scene at Llangennech in Carmarthenshire was like "something out of a disaster movie".

The incident on the Heart of Wales line on 26 August led to 330,000 litres of diesel spilling from 10 train wagons.

Buses are now replacing services between Swansea and Shrewsbury.

It means the journey can take up to six-and-a-half hours to travel the 121 miles (194km) from Swansea.

Passengers will not be able to travel again on a section of the damaged Heart of Wales railway line until November at the earliest.

Network Rail has set out the timescales for repairs to the line - which runs from Shrewsbury to Swansea - after two major incidents within a month.

In August extreme weather caused severe damage to the railway near Llandrindod Wells forcing the line to be closed, before a freight train fire and derailment occurred at Llangennech weeks later. The storm damage repairs are expected to be finished in November, while the section near Llangennech will reopen in the New Year.

From New Civil Engineer (https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/damaged-wales-rail-line-closed-until-november-following-freight-derailment-18-09-2020/)


Is it my imagination, or does it take a lot longer to reopen a railway after accidents and other major events these days? 

Network Rail has made "significant progress" repairing the storm damage with hundreds of metres of debris cleared, and work is underway to re-instate the tracks and surrounding area. Engineers are working to stabilise the tracks and embankments while installing new culverts, which helps drain water and prevent flooding. CCTV will enable improved monitoring of water levels in future storms.

Meanwhile at Llangennech, derailed wagons have been removed and now Network Rail is working with Natural Resource Wales and DB Cargo as they repair track and deal with any contamination caused by spilling of diesel from the freight train.

The central section of the Heart of Wales line has today (2 November) been handed back for services to return running on Tuesday 3 November after Network Rail completed a huge recovery effort of the line after extensive storm damage at Llandrindod Wells in August

Storm Francis battered the line causing multiple landslips and washouts with an estimated 3,000 tonnes of cuttings, embankments and track being damaged while ballast, the stones that support the track, was washed away by flooding ? forcing the line to be closed. ....

Weeks after Storm Francis caused the central section to close, a freight fire and derailment at Llangennech forced the southern end of the Heart of Wales line to also close.

Work continues to recover the site ahead of that section reopening in the new year.

‘Environmental disaster averted’ as railway reopens at site of diesel freight derailment

The railway through Llangennech has reopened for the first time in six months, following one of the biggest environmental recovery efforts Network Rail has ever been involved with.

[Article Continues]

Today the line where the Llanelli train fire occurred has thankfully now re-opened. Link to the wales online article. https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/fire-train-derailment-llangennech-llanelli-19998210

When I get a chance, I will merge for posterity.

Rail passengers' journeys are still being disrupted because trains aren't stopping at stations due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Some 16 months after the first lockdown on March 23 last year, the pandemic means that some stations on Anglesey, the Conwy Valley and the Cambrian line remain closed.

A taxi service to help them reach stations which are open is available on Anglesey but one Senedd Member is "astonished" that no solution has been found.

two stations which travellers haven't been able to use for months are Llanfairpwll and Valley on Anglesey.

Rhun ap Iorwerth MS has now met the Transport for Wales chief executive to discuss the two stations' continued closure and also train overcrowding.

He told the MS that they are still working on a solution, including for improved PPE and training for guards.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “I am astounded that in more than a year, no solution could be found that kept staff safe but that also allowed the service to do what it’s there to do, which is to pick passengers up and drop them off at stations!”

I know both Llanfairpwll and Valley stations, and cannot understand on what basis either has had to close. Both platforms are I think pretty straight, so no bends to cause problems, and both should easily be long enough to open at least two carriage doors, and I would have thought more than that. As they are also the most used of the intermediate Anglesey stations, this decision seems to be utterly bizarre.