TRAIN passengers are being urged to check before they travel ahead of essential electrification works.

Services between Newport and Cardiff will be reduced between 19 August and 3 September 2017 as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan for Wales.

There will be rail replacement buses in operation over the August bank holiday, 26 August to 28 August. Services to London will start at Newport and will be diverted via Patchway instead of Bristol Parkway due to upgrade work.

From 23 September to 29 October 2017, a second phase of electrification work on the eastern approach to Cardiff Central station will see services between Cardiff and Newport reduced during the week and at weekends, with some rail replacement bus services in operation.

Over the six weekends, the Severn Tunnel will also be closed for annual maintenance, so there will be reduced services between Cardiff and London Paddington, with a diversion through Gloucester.

Network Rail will host a public drop-in event at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Bute Terrace, in Cardiff city centre, on Monday 24 July between 3pm and 7pm. Members of the project team will be on hand to answer any questions about the works and no appointments are necessary.

Andy Thomas, Network Rail route managing director for Wales, said: “We recognise that passengers will face some disruption, and we understand how frustrating this can be but this work is essential in preparing Cardiff for new electric trains as part of our Railway Upgrade Plan.

“We would like to thank passengers for their ongoing patience as we undertake this essential engineering work. We will continue to work closely with our partners at Arriva Trains Wales and Great Western Railway to ensure passengers are able to get to where they need to be during this period.”

More detail on the diverted rail services and replacement buses as well as up to date journey information can be found via www.nationalrail.co.uk or by calling Travel Line Cymru on 0800 464 0000.