Christmas engineering works: Leeds - Swansea

[alexl92]

Hope this is the right section as it's sort of infrastructure - but it's also timetabling I suppose?

A relative may be travelling from Leeds to Swansea just before Christmas (22nd/23rd Dec), and back shortly after - maybe the 27th Dec, and is hoping to go via train.

They have been told there may be some disruption between Cardiff and Swansea around Christmas - as I understand it, the implication was that he may not actually be able to do it via train on the way back.

I know that engineering work will be taking place over the Christmas period (no problem with this); can anyone explain to me how someone travelling Leeds - Swansea via Manchester and Cardiff, and back again on the dates mentioned may be affected by these and what options there are?

Many thanks

 

[adrock1976]

I've had a quick eyeball on the National Rail Enquiries site http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx?TravelDate=27%2F12%2F2016&TOC=

The line is closed between Cardiff Central and Newport that day.

As the return journey will be starting from Swansea, an alternative would be to go via Llandindod Wells (the Central Wales Railway/Heart of Wales Line) to Shrewsbury (or Crewe if a direct train). Although the HoW Line has a lower linespeed, there may not be much difference in the journey time overall, owing to the replacement bus between Cardiff and Newport.

I have found 3 trains via the HoWL on the 27 December. Depart Swansea at 09:01 on the Milford Haven, changing at Llanelli onto the 09:54 Shrewsbury via Llandrindod Wells (HoWL) all the way to Shrewsbury, then changing onto the 13:59 Manchester Piccadilly all the way to Manchester Pic, and finally changing onto the 15:25 Middlesbrough to Leeds, arriving 16:17.

The 14:35 Crewe departing Swansea and changing at Craven Arms(!!!) onto the 18:25 Manchester Pic, then onto the 20:25 Scarborough to Leeds, arriving 21:19.

The above journey possibilities I have found using the GWR website.

It may be best to split tickets at Manchester (or Stockport) to get a reasonable fare if the person is confident in using split tickets.

 

[185143]

I've had a quick eyeball on the National Rail Enquiries site http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/service_disruptions/currentAndFuture.aspx?TravelDate=27/12/2016&TOC=

The line is closed between Cardiff Central and Newport that day.

As the return journey will be starting from Swansea, an alternative would be to go via Llandindod Wells (the Central Wales Railway/Heart of Wales Line) to Shrewsbury (or Crewe if a direct train). Although the HoW Line has a lower linespeed, there may not be much difference in the journey time overall, owing to the replacement bus between Cardiff and Newport.

I have found 3 trains via the HoWL on the 27 December. Depart Swansea at 09:01 on the Milford Haven, changing at Llanelli onto the 09:54 Shrewsbury via Llandrindod Wells (HoWL) all the way to Shrewsbury, then changing onto the 13:59 Manchester Piccadilly all the way to Manchester Pic, and finally changing onto the 15:25 Middlesbrough to Leeds, arriving 16:17.

The 14:35 Crewe departing Swansea and changing at Craven Arms(!!!) onto the 18:25 Manchester Pic, then onto the 20:25 Scarborough to Leeds, arriving 21:19.

The above journey possibilities I have found using the GWR website.

It may be best to split tickets at Manchester (or Stockport) to get a reasonable fare if the person is confident in using split tickets.

Split at Stockport and Ffairfach

Sent from my SM-G920F using Tapatalk

 

[PHILIPE]

On December 27th, the line is closed between Newport and Bridgend. In fact, Cardiff is closed altogether.
Has the OP checked Journey Planner as this is a difficult one to answer. Perhaps as has been suggested the Heart of Wales could be the best bet.