We’re upgrading the signalling system between Swansea and Carmarthen, which will help to improve the resilience and reliability of passenger and freight journeys in the future.
This project is being carried out in two phases:
- Phase one – This covers the south Wales mainline between Swansea and Llanelli, including the Heart of Wales line as far north as Pontarddulais, and the Swansea District lines.
- Phase two – This covers the mainline between Llanelli and Carmarthen.
What work is taking place?
This project will replace approximately 68 miles of old signalling equipment with a brand-new state-of-the-art system.
The work also includes upgrading several level crossings along the route with brand-new barriers and crossing equipment.
The level crossings that will be upgraded are:
- Dyffryn Level Crossing
- Pembrey Level Crossing
- Kidwelly Level Crossing
- Bertwyn Level Crossing
- Ferryside Level Crossing
How will this work affect me?
There will be occasions where we work 24/7 which means no trains will be running. The next dates that passenger trains will be affected are:
- Friday 19 to Sunday 21 May
If you are planning to travel by train in the Carmarthen and Swansea areas on these dates, our advice is to plan ahead and check before travelling at National Rail, GWR or TFW:
Why is the work needed?
The existing signalling system on this stretch of railway is very old and some of it dates back to the 1890s. Funded by Network Rail, via the Department for Transport, £130m is being invested to upgrade the entire signalling system. The benefits include:
- Reducing delays caused by signal failures
- Improving passenger journeys by making them safer and more reliable
- Providing the infrastructure needed for more frequent services in the future
- Automatically setting routes for trains according to the planned timetables – enabling signallers to focus on critical tasks.
Once complete, signallers will control train movements for this 68-mile stretch of railway from brand-new workstations at Port Talbot. This means that four signal boxes at Pembrey, Kidwelly, Carmarthen and Ferryside will be closed.
Get in touch
Have a question about the project? Visit our contact us page for all the ways you can get in touch with us.