North Wales Main Line

North Wales Main Line
North Wales Coast Line in Colwyn Bay along the Irish Sea
Overview
Other name(s)
  • North Wales Coast Line
  • Holyhead–Crewe line
Native name
  • Llinell Arfordir Gogledd Cymru
  • Rheilffordd Arfordir Gogledd Cymru
  • Prif Linell Gogledd Cymru
  • Prif Linell y Gogledd
  • Rheilffordd Cryw a Chaergybi
OwnerNetwork Rail
Locale
Termini
Stations19
Service
TypeHeavy Rail
SystemNational Rail
Operator(s)
Rolling stock
History
Opened1850
Technical
Line length105.5 miles (169.8 km)
Number of tracksDouble track mostly (except on the Britannia Bridge where there is single track)
CharacterMainly coastal
Track gauge4 ft 8+12 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge
Operating speed90 mph (145 km/h)
Route map
North Wales Main Line
Holyhead ferry/water interchange
Valley
Rhosneigr
Tŷ Croes
Bodorgan
Gaerwen
Llanfairpwll
 A55  North Wales Expy.
Britannia Bridge
Menai Bridge
Bangor
Aber
Llanfairfechan
Penmaenmawr
 A55  North Wales Expy.
Conway Marsh
Conwy
Llandudno
 A55  North Wales Expy.
Deganwy
Llandudno Junction
Mochdre & Pabo
Colwyn Bay
Old Colwyn
Llysfaen
Llandulas
Abergele & Pensarn
Foryd
Rhyl
Prestatyn
Talacre
Mostyn
Holywell Junction
Bagillt
Flint
Connah's Quay
Shotton
Queensferry
Sandycroft
Saltney Ferry
Dee Bridge
over River Dee
Roodee Viaduct
Northgate Tunnel
Chester
Waverton
Black Dog
Tattenhall Road
Beeston Castle and Tarporley
Calveley
Worleston
Crewe enlarge…

The North Wales Main Line (Welsh: Prif Linell Gogledd Cymru or Prif Linell y Gogledd; lit.'North Main Line'),[1] also known as the North Wales Coast Line (Welsh: Llinell Arfordir Gogledd Cymru),[2] is a major railway line in the north of Wales and Cheshire, England, running from Crewe on the West Coast Main Line to Holyhead on the Isle of Anglesey. The line has 19 stations, with all except two, Chester and Crewe, being in Wales.

The line is not currently electrified, so Avanti West Coast, the current operator of the West Coast Partnership franchise, currently uses Class 221 Super Voyagers and Class 805 Evero units, which they have done in the case of the former since December 2007 and the latter since June 2024, on routes to Holyhead. Plans to electrify the line were announced in October 2023.[3]

The line contains several notable engineering structures, including Conwy railway bridge across the River Conwy, and Britannia Bridge across the Menai Strait.

  1. ^ "Route Utilisation Strategy - Wales" (PDF). Network Rail. 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 7 February 2012.
  2. ^ Translation used for the service of the same name by Transport for Wales. "TfW Network Map" (PDF). Transport for Wales. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
  3. ^ "Network North". GOV.UK. Retrieved 4 October 2023.