Posted 6th December 2013 | 3 Comments

North Wales storm repairs 'will take some days'

NETWORK RAIL has warned that flood damage along the north Wales coast means that railway services between Chester and Holyhead will be disrupted until next week.

More than 200m of sea wall collapsed on to the railway at Mostyn as the storm-driven tide battered the coastline, and the railway is closed between Chester and Rhyl.

The line between Llandudno Junction and Llanrwst was also damaged by the tidal surge as it made its way along the River Conwy, and there are no branch trains to Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Three heavy excavators are being used to clear around 1000 tonnes of fallen sea wall from the railway at Mostyn. Once this has been cleared, work will begin to repair the sea wall, check the track for damage, replace more than 150 tonnes of ballast which has been washed away by the sea and repair signalling and other electrical equipment.

Network Rail has estimated this work will be completed by Tuesday morning, although the company also warned that 'further significant work will be required to the sea wall', which means that a speed restriction will be imposed.

Engineers are currently in the Conwy Valley assessing the extent of the damage to the Blaenau branch. Network Rail said repairs will follow, but the line is not expected to reopen until Thursday or Friday next week.

In the meantime a rail shuttle has been introduced between Holyhead and Rhyl, but trains from there to Chester and also between Llandudno Junction and Blaenau Ffestiniog are being replaced by buses. Trains are continuing to run between Llandudno Junction and Llandudno.

Network Rail Wales route managing director Mark Langman said: “The storm surge has caused significant damage to the railway in north Wales. We are doing everything we can to get passengers on the move again, but the scale of the work needed means it is likely to be several days before train services resume through the affected areas.

“Anyone who has seen photos of the damage will understand that there is considerable work required, but I can assure them our people will be working round-the-clock to reopen the railway as quickly as possible. I’d like to thank the train operators and their passengers for the patience and understanding being shown while we get the railway back up and running.”

Reader Comments:

Views expressed in submitted comments are that of the author, and not necessarily shared by Railnews.

  • Bob Turvey, Wallasey

    The signal is usually cleared as Mostyn Box is normally switched out and all signals cleared, between Holywell Junction box and Talacre Box

  • Chris Jones-Bridger, Deeside Flintshire

    There is nothing out of the ordinary with the signal showing a proceed indication as under normal day to day circumstances the controlling signalbox Mostyn is unmanned and switched out. In recent years it has only been required for freight trains to access the adjacent Mostyn dock sidings which currently see no regular traffic.

    To meet the requirements of todays North Wales coast train service headways can be accomodated with the signalling section being between the adjacent open signalboxes at Talacre and Holywell Jn. As a consequence of being switched out and unmanned Mostyn's signals are to be found in the clear position. The obstruction caused by the storm damage will be protected by the the open signalboxes.

  • Jim Campbell, Solihull

    Anyone else notice; rocks all over the track but the signal is cleared for a train.

    (At a guess, the signal wire is fouled by one of those rocks.--Editor.)