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. 

Key points – £25m North Wales rail upgrade

  • 9–29 January 2027: No trains between Chester and Holyhead, including Bangor, or on the Conwy Valley line between Llandudno and Blaenau Ffestiniog.

  • 30 January – 5 February: Trains resume between Chester and Llandudno Junction and on the Conwy Valley line, but the line between Llandudno Junction and Holyhead, including Bangor, remains closed.

  • £25 million investment: Major track renewals and upgrades at Conwy Tubular Railway Bridge, Bodorgan Tunnel, Penmaenbach, Holyhead and Llandudno.

  • Other improvements: Platform upgrades at Llandudno Junction and new active travel footbridges at Prestatyn and Pensarn.

  • Replacement buses: Limited-stop services every 30 minutes between Chester and Holyhead, calling at Colwyn Bay, Llandudno Junction and Bangor.

  • Local replacement buses: Every 30 minutes between Chester and Bangor, and hourly between Bangor and Holyhead.

  • Sunday services: Limited-stop Chester–Holyhead replacement buses hourly, with reduced frequencies on other routes.

  • Wrexham disruption: No trains between Wrexham General and Chester on 10, 16, 17, 23 and 24 January.

  • Avanti West Coast: London Euston services will terminate at Chester for the first three weeks and Llandudno Junction during the final week.

  • Manchester–Cardiff services: Unaffected by the closure.

  • Passenger advice: Allow extra journey time and check replacement bus arrangements before travelling

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