Closure of major rail line to start next week as mayor seeks to get urgent message out

Councillor Andy Munro, the mayor of Church Stretton, has been involved in frantic behind-the-scenes communication with senior people at Network Rail and operator Transport for Wales after only recently finding out about the closure of the Marches Line.

Replacement buses are being arranged as works to repair the Dinmore Tunnel between Hereford and Leominster begin.

"There are going to be no trains for three weeks between Shrewsbury and Hereford," said mayor Munro. "Most importantly, nobody knows!"

Network Rail says buses will replace trains between Hereford and Shrewsbury during a nine-day closure on the Marches Line between Tuesday September 12 to Thursday September 21 as teams work around the clock to renew the track and ballast inside the historic tunnel.

This work will be followed by a reduced rail service from Cardiff to Shrewsbury from Friday September 22 to Friday September 29.

Mayor Munro said: "I’m keen to inform residents all along the line about the closure before they turn up to catch a train. It will be particularly difficult for students going to Ludlow and Hereford."

Transport for Wales has confirmed that buses will replace trains between Llanwrtyd/Llandrindod/Hereford and Shrewsbury from Tuesday, September 12 to Thursday, September 21.

They confirm that engineering work is taking place between Shrewsbury and Hereford, closing all lines.

Mayor Munro said he "fully understands" the necessity to undertake maintenance.

"But all reasonable opportunities to mitigate the closure and to advise passengers have been lost because the communities have not been told.

"Having spoken to other mayors I find that no-one has been made aware of these significant timetable changes."

From next Tuesday buses will replace trains between Hereford and Shrewsbury and Llanwrtyd/Llandrindod and Shrewsbury.

Trains that usually run between Cardiff Central and Holyhead will run between Shrewsbury and Holyhead only.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said buses will replace trains between Hereford and Shrewsbury during a nine-day closure on the Marches Line between Tuesday September 12 to Thursday September 21 as teams work around the clock to renew the track and ballast inside the historic tunnel.

Network Rail, along with principal contractors, Colas Rail, will access the railway from Wellington Level Crossing, to replace the supporting stones and track travelling towards London of Dinmore Tunnel, which was constructed in 1853.

They say the new track will boost reliability of journeys on the Marches line – an important rail link that connects South Wales to the Midlands and beyond.

Transport for Wales will operate a bus replacement service from Hereford to Shrewsbury while the railway is shut, followed by a reduced rail service from Cardiff to Shrewsbury from Friday September 22 to Friday September 29.

Network Rail urges passengers to check before they travel at: www.journeycheck.com/tfwrail/ for more information.

Clarisse Grother, senior programme manager at Network Rail Wales & Borders, said: “We understand that there is never a good time to close the railway or roads but this essential work, in Dinmore Tunnel, will improve reliability on the Marches Line, ensuring this important and well-travelled link between South Wales, the Midlands, North of England and beyond is secure for the future.

“We will be working around the clock to get the work completed as quickly and safely as possible, and I would like to apologise to passengers and the local community for any disruption this may cause.”

Network Rail has asked people to be aware that these dates may change:

Tuesday September 21 to Friday September 29 (continuously main work) - Track renewal

Saturday September 30 to Sunday November 19 (Saturday nights) 11pm to 9:40am - Follow up work.

Ludlow councillor Andy Boddington said; "The closure will disrupt people going to work, to college, and to access health services not available in Ludlow.

"I am sure it is necessary but after a year of strikes, staff absences, understaffing, overcrowding and train units being withdrawn for urgent maintenance, disruption on our railways appears permanent.

"We have a utopian hope of a wonderful railway. But that future always seems to be at least a decade away.

"Passenger numbers won't increase until a reliable service is provided."