ADDITIONAL train services to West Wales are set to begin, following the completion of a £48 million railway project involving the replacement of the Loughor Viaduct.
The Network Rail project has involved redoubling a stretch of railway almost five and a half miles long between Swansea and Gowerton stations, and has been carried out to meet a projected 20 per cent rise in the number of West Wales railway passengers by 2020.
Arriva Trains Wales will now double the number of train services between Pembroke Dock, Carmarthen and Swansea, and a Cardiff to Swansea service will be extended to Llanelli in the afternoons, with a new morning service between the two cities.
Network Rail says the project will improve opportunities for people from West Wales to visit Swansea and Cardiff for leisure and shopping, as well as employment.
Mark Langman, route managing director, Wales, said: "This new viaduct and redoubling of the railway through Gowerton will remove the current bottleneck created by the stretch of single line and provide capacity to run more trains in the future.
"This project joins a number of other rail improvement projects in South and West Wales that will help deliver better journeys and boost economic growth in the area."
Arriva Trains Wales says it can now introduce 14 additional services calling at Gowerton in each direction, Monday to Saturday, with 11 on Sunday.
The stretch of railway has been closed for the past two weeks, to allow the project to be completed. It is due to reopen on Monday.
The new services are due to begin on May 16.
Mike Bagshaw, commercial director for Arriva Trains Wales said: "These changes are good news for passengers in West Wales.
"Many passengers, including commuters and visitors to the area, will see real benefits from this package of changes."
