Updated plans released for North Wales Main Line level crossing replacements

Network Rail has released updated plans for new footbridges to replace four level crossings on the North Wales Main Line.

Crossings in both Pensarn and Prestatyn need to be closed or managed differently before a new timetable is introduced in May 2026.

At one crossing (Sandy Lane, Prestatyn), there were 19 reported incidents of misuse at the crossing in the two years up to August 2024, including four near misses.

It’s previously been described as the most misused in Wales.

Closing the crossings would allow the line speed to increase from 75mph to 90mph.

Previous plans at Prestatyn have been modified to take height, safety and aesthetics into account, leading to NR proposing an accessible footbridge adjacent to the road bridge over the station.

At Pensarn a new accessible footbridge between the two crossings has been put forward.

Transport for Wales plans to increase the number of services along the route by 50%, extending more of its Liverpool-Chester services to Llandudno.

Funding for the bridges is coming from the government’s Rail Network Enhancement Pipeline, of which £445 million is destined for the Welsh network.

In North Wales, that has led to track realignment, signalling work and capacity enhancements on the Wrexham-Liverpool line at Padeswood.

Further south, the money will go towards reconfiguring Cardiff West Junction as well as signalling and track upgrades to the South Wales Main Line relief lines, projects which would help double the number of trains on the Cardiff City Line to Radyr to four per hour.

The money will also help fund five stations listed by the Burns Delivery Unit: Tremorfa, Newport West, Somerton, Llanwern and Magor & Undy.