North Wales rail line to close for four weeks from 9 January

Passengers on the North Wales Coast line face a four-week closure from Saturday 9 January until Saturday 6 February 2027 while Network Rail carries out more than £25m of work. The first three weeks affect the railway between Chester and Holyhead, including the Conwy Valley line and the branch between Llandudno Junction and Llandudno. In the fourth week, the closure reduces to the section between Llandudno Junction and Holyhead.

When to check replacement travel

Rail replacement services will run, but the detailed arrangements have not yet been confirmed. Network Rail says amended journey-planner timetables for January and February should become available between late October and early November. Its announcement on 29 September reduces the Chester to Llandudno Junction closure from four weeks to three. Travellers should check the amended timetable once it is published rather than assume normal trains or connections will run.

What the work covers

The programme includes track renewal on Conwy’s tubular railway bridge, track and drainage work in Bodorgan Tunnel, and track and ground improvements at Penmaenbach. The infrastructure being replaced at those locations dates from 1978, 1972 and 1986 respectively. Other work includes improvements at Holyhead, Llandudno and Llandudno Junction, four level crossings east of Bangor, and two accessible footbridges at Prestatyn and Abergele supporting the closure of four high-risk crossings.

Why combine the closures?

Network Rail says concentrating the work into one programme will reduce the need for repeated weekend closures later. It has chosen January because it is traditionally quieter for tourism in North Wales. That is the operator’s rationale, rather than a promise that the disruption will be minor. For passengers, the next useful update is the replacement timetable and the connections it offers.