Some train passengers in Wales are facing a week of disruption due to damage on one of its main railway lines. Passengers travelling between Cardiff Central, Ebbw Vale and Newport are facing disruption after a fire caused extensive damage to the railway on Monday, May 14.
A number of trains were cancelled and severely delayed on the route on Tuesday, including a number of routes coming from England including Liverpool, Manchester and Crewe. Disruption was still happening on Tuesday morning with almost all services from Newport to Cardiff Central being delayed or cancelled.
Most services from Ebbw Vale Town to Cardiff Central were also cancelled on Tuesday morning. Services from Cardiff going in the opposite direction on that line were also facing major delays and in some cases being cancelled.
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Network Rail has confirmed that a lineside fire caused extensive damage to the railway infrastructure between Cardiff Central and Newport/Ebbw Vale Town and that disruption is expected until at least Wednesday, May 24. It said the following services will be affected:
- CrossCountry between Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads / Birmingham New Street / Nottingham
- Great Western Railway between Cardiff Central and Bristol Temple Meads / Exeter St Davids / Portsmouth Harbour / London Paddington / Penzance; and also between Swansea and London Paddington
- Transport for Wales between Cardiff Central and Newport / Ebbw Vale Town / Manchester Piccadilly, and also between Carmarthen and Crewe
A Network Rail statement on Tuesday read: "Yesterday (Monday), a lineside fire caused extensive damage to the railway infrastructure between Cardiff Central and Newport / Ebbw Vale Town. As a result of this, some lines are currently closed.
"Trains running between these stations may be cancelled, revised or delayed by up to 30 minutes. Disruption is expected until at least Wednesday 24 May."
A message on Transport for Wales' website said: "Disruption to services between Cardiff Central and Newport are expected until at least May 24. Due to damage to the overhead electric wires, fewer trains can run. Passengers are advised to check before they travel here."
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