Essential Upgrade Work to Temporarily Close Four Level Crossings Between Wrexham and Chester

Four level crossings between Wrexham and Chester will temporarily close this spring due to ‘essential upgrade work’ by Network Rail.

Balderton and Broad Oak level crossings will temporarily close on Friday 10 March to Friday 24 March – with Green Lane and Pulford Level Crossings temporarily closed between Saturday 25 March and Friday 14 April.

The work, which is being carried out as part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan, will see the crossings benefit from safer, state-of-the-art obstacle detection systems, and new full barriers, as part of the final phase of the North/South Wales Enhancement project.

Diversionary routes for road users will also be in place throughout the closures.

Funded by Welsh Government, the major rail enhancement will deliver five miles of track
redoubling between Wrexham and Chester.

It is hoped that once the project is commissioned this spring, the upgrade work will allow for more frequent services and shorter journey times between Cardiff and Holyhead, subject to additional fleet being made available and limited-stop services being specified in the future.

The improvements also aim to make the railway more resilient, with more reliable services for passengers and quicker recovery in the event of incidents on the network.

As part of the final phase of the North/South Wales Enhancement project, work will also be undertaken on the railway between Rossett Junction and Saltney Junction, which will affect rail users travelling between Wrexham and Chester and from North Wales to Chester.

Rail replacement bus services will be in operation as follows:

• 9pm Friday 24th March to 11:35pm Saturday 25th March – Chester to Rhyl
• 11:35pm Saturday 25 March night to 3:55am Monday 27 March – Chester to Llandudno Junction
• 9pm Friday 24 March to 5:10am Saturday 1 April – Chester to Wrexham

Francis McGarry, Route Delivery Director from Network Rail Wales said: “We are pleased to be delivering the final phase of the North/South Wales Enhancement project, which will unlock the potential for faster and more frequent services between Holyhead and Cardiff.

“Although I understand temporary road and rail closures are not ideal, the essential upgrade work will make the level crossings safer for road users and pedestrians, and the railway more resilient.

“I would like to thank road and rail users for bearing with us whilst this improvement work takes place. We have been working closely with our partners Arriva Trains Wales and the affected local authorities to ensure passengers and road users are still able to get to where they need to be during this essential upgrade work.”

Picture – Pulford Level Crossing (Network Rail)