22 May 2026
With a busy Bank Holiday weekend and warm weather forecast, Transport for Wales (TfW) is encouraging passengers to plan ahead as essential rail improvements take place across the Cardiff and Valleys network.
Planned infrastructure improvements will close all lines through Cardiff Queen Street between Sunday 24 and Bank Holiday Monday 25 May. To keep passengers moving, a combination of rail replacement buses and service diversions will operate across the local Cardiff and Valleys network.
Services will continue to run from Treherbert, Aberdare and Merthyr into Cardiff Central via the City Line (via Ninian park) with rail replacement services travelling between Radyr and Llandaf, Cathays, Cardiff Queen Street and Cardiff Bay.
Industrial action by West Midlands Railway will affect Shrewsbury - Wolverhampton and Hereford - Birmingham routes on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 May. TfW services are expected to be busier than usual as a result, and extra capacity will be in place where possible.
With high temperatures forecast across the bank holiday weekend, services to popular coastal destinations such as Barry Island and the North Wales coast are expected to be busier than usual.
Passengers are also reminded of the recent timetable change that came into effect on Sunday 17 May, with some services now calling at different stations at different times.
Customers are encouraged to plan ahead, allow extra time for their journeys, and prepare for the forecast hot weather by carrying water, staying hydrated and taking sensible precautions while travelling.
Sarah Higgins, Operations Director at Transport for Wales said: "Transport for Wales will be running its normal timetable over the Bank Holiday weekend, but some services may be much busier than usual due to industrial action at West Midlands Railway affecting Shrewsbury–Birmingham and Hereford–Birmingham services on Friday 22 and Saturday 23 May.
"With high temperatures also forecast, customers are encouraged to take extra care when travelling, check for the latest travel information using the TfW website, mobile app, or social media channels, and to stay hydrated."
For more information visit TfW website: www.tfw.wales
Notes to editors
The following changes will apply on Sunday and Monday, with some additional arrangements in place on Monday only:
Rhymney / Caerphilly - Barry Island
Sunday and Monday:
- Buses will replace trains between Rhymney / Caerphilly and Cardiff Central.
Radyr - Cardiff Central (via Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street)
Sunday and Monday:
- Buses will replace trains between Radyr and Cardiff Central.
- Services from Treherbert and Merthyr Tydfil will divert via the City Line (Fairwater).
Penarth - Coryton
Sunday and Monday:
- Services from Penarth to Coryton will terminate at Cardiff Central.
- Tickets will be accepted on Cardiff Bus routes 21, 23 and 27 at no extra cost.
Monday only:
- Tickets will also be valid on Cardiff Bus routes 92, 93 and 94 between Penarth and Cardiff City Centre.
Cardiff Bay Line
Sunday and Monday:
- Tickets will be accepted on Cardiff Bus route 6.
- An additional hourly bus will operate between Radyr and Cardiff Bay, calling at Llandaf, Cathays and Cardiff Queen Street.
Customers can use our Rail Replacement Services page for information on bus replacements.
- Customers can use Traveline Cymru for bus journey planning
- Advice for train travel during warm weather: 5 ways to keep cool on your journeys this summer
