RAIL services in Mid Wales will be getting back on track from Monday (November 2) following repairs after flood damage.

The northern section of the Heart of Wales Line will reopen next Monday after closure due to flooding that caused substantial damage back in August, with the subsequent infrastructure work carried out by Network Rail.

Transport for Wales (TfW) has confirmed that two services a day will run, in each direction, with trains running to Llandrindod and rail replacement buses temporarily running from Llandrindod to Swansea while work continues to repair the line near Llangennech.

Extensive damage was caused to train tracks near Knighton earlier in the year, which has now been fixed, with TfW confirming this will extend at a later point down to Llanwrtyd Wells. There will only be two trains a day in each direction to begin with, however, TFW will be implementing a more passenger-friendly timetable with a morning and an afternoon train.

Alexia Course, Transport for Wales’ rail operations director, said: “On behalf of everyone at TfW, I’d like to thank our colleagues in Network Rail for their hard work in repairing the Heart of Wales Line between Llandrindod and Craven Arms.

“The completion of the work has allowed us to reinstate a limited rail service from November 2.

“I’d also like to thank customers for their patience while services have been disrupted, and ask that they continue to check services online. We will continue to provide transport links using replacement buses between Swansea and Llandrindod.

“Our services in Wales are currently in place for essential journeys only, due to the ongoing ‘firebreak’ lockdown throughout Wales until Monday, November 9.”

An update on travel times for Llanwrtyd residents was posted on the town council’s Facebook page on Thursday, stating that TfW and Network Rail will also begin essential train driver route refresher training between Llandrindod and Llanwrtyd next week.

While this important training takes place, Llanwrtyd residents may see empty trains running to/from the station. TfW say they will confirm when passenger services can commence on this section of the line as soon as possible.

A revamped timetable will be introduced on Monday to accommodate early morning travel as follows: Departing Swansea 04:45am arriving in Shrewsbury at 10:15am; departing Shrewsbury 05:56am arriving in Swansea by coach at 10:48 (by minibus 11.28am); departing Swansea 1pm arriving in Shrewsbury at 6.29pm; departing Shrewsbury 2.05pm arriving in Swansea by coach at 6.53pm (by minibus 7.33pm).

For a full Heart of Wales Line timetable check the TfW website.