EditorStorm Goretti: ‘Do Not Travel’ warning as rail lines shut and Wales braces for blizzard conditions
Digital boards at Cardiff Central are already flashing the message as Transport for Wales and Network Rail prepare to close multiple lines from 3pm today, with more disruption expected overnight.
It follows our earlier report revealing that amber and yellow Met Office warnings had been split across South West Wales, with forecasters warning of up to 30cm of snow, heavy rain in lower lying areas, 50mph winds and the risk of power cuts, fallen trees and dangerous road conditions.
Now the situation has escalated again.
Amber warning hits tonight — huge area affected
The Met Office’s amber warning for snow kicks in at 8pm tonight and runs until 9am Friday, covering a huge stretch of Wales including:
- Carmarthenshire
- Ceredigion
- Conwy
- Denbighshire
- Gwynedd
- Powys
- Blaenau Gwent
- Caerphilly
- Merthyr Tydfil
- Monmouthshire
- Rhondda Cynon Taf
- Torfaen
- Wrexham
Forecasters say travel could become “very difficult or impossible”, with the risk of power outages, localised flooding, and roads blocked by snow and fallen trees.
A Transport for Wales train pushes through worsening snow as Storm Goretti disrupts services across Wales. (Image: TfW)Rail chaos: lines shut, buses unlikely, and a skeleton timetable
TfW says trains will run normally this morning — but from 3pm, the network will be hit by widespread suspensions, including all services west of Carmarthen and the Heart of Wales Line.
Routes suspended from 3pm
- Llandudno Junction to Llandudno
- Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog
- Wrexham to Bidston
- Craven Arms to Swansea (Heart of Wales Line)
- All services west of Carmarthen
- Maesteg and Ebbw Vale lines
- Vale of Glamorgan and Barry lines
- Cardiff to Penarth
The Cambrian Coast line (Machynlleth–Pwllheli) is suspended all day.
Reduced timetable from 3pm
- Carmarthen to Cardiff: 1 train per hour
- Cardiff to Crewe: 1 train per hour
- Shrewsbury to Holyhead: 1 train per hour
- Shrewsbury to Aberystwyth: 1 train every 2 hours
- Shrewsbury to Crewe (local): 1 train every 2 hours
- Birmingham International to Shrewsbury:
- Cardiff to Gloucester: 1 train per hour
- Chester to Manchester: 1 train per hour
Core Valley Lines will run 1 train per hour between Treherbert, Merthyr, Rhymney and Cardiff, plus a half‑hourly Coryton–Cardiff Bay service.
A reduced timetable will run elsewhere, but TfW warns that rail replacement buses may not be possible because roads are already becoming treacherous.
Network Rail: “We may need to close more lines”
Network Rail says snow, sleet and freezing temperatures are already affecting points, signalling and track conditions — and more closures could follow as the storm intensifies.
Teams are out clearing drainage, checking point heaters, running snow‑treatment trains and positioning chainsaw crews to deal with fallen trees.
TfW: “Platforms will be slippery — take extra care”
TfW says passengers should expect severe delays, slippery platforms and last‑minute cancellations.
Tickets for today will be valid until Sunday.
Passengers should check:
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