12 Nov 2026
Transport for Wales (TfW) is preparing one of its biggest ever rail replacement operations to keep customers moving during a £25 million programme of engineering work along the North Wales Coast in January and February 2027.
Scheduled for January to reduce the impact on tourism and local businesses, the closure will enable Network Rail to safely and efficiently deliver several years’ worth of improvements across the North Wales Coast.
This includes major track renewals and upgrades at key locations such as the Conwy Tubular Railway Bridge, Bodorgan Tunnel, Penmaenbach, Holyhead and Llandudno, with some infrastructure receiving significant investment for the first time since the 1970s. The programme will also include platform improvements at Llandudno Junction and two new active travel footbridges at Prestatyn and Pensarn.
For three weeks, from Saturday 9 to Friday 29 January, no trains will run between Chester and Holyhead or on the Conwy Valley line between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog. From Saturday 30 January, rail services will run between Chester and Llandudno Junction and on the Conwy Valley line, while the railway between Llandudno Junction and Holyhead will remain closed until Friday 5 February.
Manchester to Cardiff services will continue to run as normal throughout. Engineering work at Chester station will also mean that no rail services will run between Wrexham and Chester during three weekends in January.
While the railway is closed, TfW will operate rail replacement bus services, supported by TfW bus coordinators and station teams at key interchange stations across North Wales.
Customers will have a choice of faster, limited-stop services and local buses serving all stations, providing regular connections throughout the closure. Limited-stop buses will run every 30 minutes between Chester and Holyhead, calling only at Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction and Bangor. These will operate alongside local, all-stations services every 30 minutes between Chester and Bangor and every hour between Bangor and Holyhead.
Colin Lea, Planning & Performance Director at TfW, said: “Following the introduction of our brand-new trains and more frequent services along the North Wales Coast, this investment is another important step towards providing a more reliable and resilient railway.
“Bringing rail replacement management in-house has allowed us to better coordinate our bus and rail operations.
“We know some journeys will take a bit longer during the closure, so we’re asking customers to check before they travel, plan ahead and allow extra time for their journey.”
Emma Osborn, Passenger Strategy Director at Network Rail said: “The North Wales Coast is a vital railway connecting communities across the region, and this £25 million programme will see our teams deliver several years’ worth of essential upgrades in just four weeks.
“The closure gives us the access we need to carry out this work safely and efficiently, renewing key parts of the railway to make it more reliable and resilient for years to come.
“We know there is never a good time to close the railway, and we’re grateful to passengers and communities for their patience while we carry out this vital work.”
Customers who require additional assistance are encouraged to book Passenger Assist before travelling. While all replacement coaches will be fully accessible, advance bookings will help TfW teams provide the best possible support for customers with reduced mobility.
All passengers travelling along the North Wales Coast in early 2027 are strongly encouraged to check before they travel and allow extra time for their journeys, as rail replacement services will take longer than rail journeys. More information on the closure can be found on https://tfw.wales/north-wales-coast
Notes to editors
- More information on what work Network Rail will carry out during the railway closure can be found on their website: Find out more about the improvements Network Rail is delivering across the North Wales Coast railway.
- Rail replacement journeys will be displayed on the TfW app, website and journey planners, helping customers plan their journeys during the closure.
- On Sundays, the faster, limited stop services will run hourly between Holyhead and Chester. Conwy Valley services and Holyhead to Llandudno services will run roughly every 2 hours, and Llandudno to Chester services will run roughly every 30 minutes.
- TfW bus coordinators will be based at key interchange stations throughout the closure, helping customers make connections and find the right replacement services.
- Passenger Assist can be booked in advance via the TfW website or by calling the team on 03333 211202.
- Most rail replacement bus stops are a short walk from railway stations. Passengers using Pay As You Go, which is available between Chester and Rhyl, should tap in at the station before boarding the rail replacement bus and tap out at the station when they arrive at their destination. By creating a Pay As You Go account on the TfW app or website, customers can app any missed taps to avoid incomplete journey charges. More guidance on using Pay As You Go during the closure can be found on TfW’s website: https://tfw.wales/north-wales-coast
- Passengers travelling between North and South West Wales, or between the North Wales Coast and the Cambrian line, may benefit from using TfW’s TaithCymru coach service. The service runs between Bangor and Carmarthen and must be booked in advance online, with connections to Cambrian line services for destinations including Shrewsbury and Birmingham International. TfW also operate Trawscymru and Ffecsi services across North Wales.
- Avanti West Coast will run its hourly service between London Euston and Chester during the first three weeks of the closure, with rail replacement services operating between Chester and Holyhead. During the final week, Avanti West Coast rail services will operate to and from Llandudno Junction.
- Passengers should also be aware that platforms 1–4 at Chester station will be closed on three weekends in January. This means that Wrexham General to Chester services will not run and will be replaced by buses on Sunday 10 January, Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 January, and Saturday 23 and Sunday 24 January. Chester services to Manchester, Liverpool and Crewe will run as normal.
