Rail passengers are being urged to check before they travel with planned engineering works taking place over Christmas.

Network Rail is continuing work on a £30m refurbishment of Gwynedd’s iconic Barmouth Viaduct, protecting this vital transport link for future generations. The Cambrian Coast Line between Machynlleth and Pwllheli will continue to be closed until Wednesday 29 December, with replacement buses running.

Bill Kelly, Wales and Borders route director at Network Rail said: “The refurbishment work we are doing over the festive period is vital to the long-term future of the railway in Wales.

“We are hoping to minimise disruption for passengers by carrying out much of the work on Christmas Day and Boxing Day - when there are no timetabled train services.

“I want to thank passengers for their continued patience and remind them to plan their journeys in advance.”

Customers must purchase a valid ticket before boarding a TfW service. Checking journey details and purchasing tickets can be done at https://tfw.wales/

Customers are also reminded that wearing a face covering while on public transport remains the law in Wales and England, unless exempt. A face covering must also be worn whilst in enclosed stations.

Transport for Wales is working with British Transport Police on a joint operation over the festive period to keep passengers safe. Operation Genesis will see extra officers and rail staff out across the network throughout December to prevent crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as provide reassurance and personal safety advice to the public.

BTP PC Tomos Van Praet said: “We want to everyone to enjoy the festive season and we’ll be working closely with our partners to make sure everyone gets home safely.

“Rail is one of the safest ways to travel - but, we see how alcohol can really affect judgement and people often take greater risks. We urge passengers to take extra care of themselves and others during this period to make sure they have a safe journey.

“As well as having extra officers on hand across the network, we want to remind passengers of our discreet text service. Save the number ‘61016’ in your phone, in case you ever need our assistance on the railway.”

There will be no rail services operating throughout the Wales and Borders network on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. There will only be a limited service on the evenings of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve.