‘Severe Disruption’ to Rail Services Between Cardiff and Newport After Fire
Rail passengers travelling between Cardiff and Newport faced major disruption on Monday after a fire broke out on the railway tracks, prompting significant delays and cancellations. Network Rail has confirmed that the incident has caused “severe disruption” across one of Wales’ busiest rail corridors.
The fire, which is believed to have started in the early hours of the morning, occurred near the main line connecting Cardiff Central and Newport station. Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 5:30am and quickly worked to extinguish the flames. No injuries have been reported, but the incident caused significant damage to railway equipment and infrastructure.
According to Network Rail, the blaze damaged trackside electrical cables and signalling equipment, making the line temporarily unsafe for normal train operation. Engineers have since been dispatched to assess the full extent of the damage and begin urgent repairs.
“We’re dealing with a fire that has severely impacted train services between Cardiff and Newport,” said a Network Rail spokesperson. “Our teams are working around the clock to carry out repairs, but passengers should expect delays and cancellations throughout the day. We apologise for the inconvenience and advise customers to check their journey before travelling.”
Transport for Wales, the main operator on the route, has confirmed that many of its services between South Wales and destinations further east, including Bristol, Swindon, and London, are either delayed or cancelled. Some trains are being diverted or are terminating earlier than scheduled. Great Western Railway (GWR) has also reported disruption to its services in and out of South Wales.
Commuters were left frustrated during the morning rush hour as services were either significantly delayed or replaced with limited bus alternatives. Long queues were reported at Cardiff Central as passengers scrambled to make alternate arrangements.
One commuter, Hannah Davies from Newport, said: “I usually catch the 7:10am train to Cardiff for work, but it was cancelled. I waited for over an hour, and when a replacement bus finally came, it was overcrowded. It’s been a nightmare.”
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation, but early reports suggest it may have been triggered by an electrical fault in the trackside infrastructure. Network Rail has not ruled out the possibility of weather-related issues, as heavy rain and high winds have affected parts of South Wales over the past few days.
Network Rail has urged passengers to check live travel updates via their website or through National Rail Enquiries. They have also advised travellers to consider delaying non-essential journeys or working from home if possible.
As of Monday afternoon, there is no confirmed timeline for when full service will resume. Engineers remain on-site carrying out inspections and repairs, with further updates expected later in the day.
The incident has highlighted the vulnerability of key transport infrastructure in the region and raised questions about the resilience of the railway network in extreme weather conditions. For now, passengers are being urged to remain patient and plan ahead as efforts to restore normal services continue.
Read more on;https://www.sportupdates.co.uk
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