North Wales Main Line

The North Wales Main Line runs along the coast from Crewe to Holyhead, with most stations in Wales. It passes through Flintshire, where Flint, Prestatyn and Rhyl stand beside sandy beaches. The line follows the coast for much of its route, offering views of the Irish Sea and the mountains beyond. The route carries the Irish Mail and other important services between Britain and Ireland. It once used steam engines that picked up water while running, using the world’s first water troughs at Mochdre. The line has two major bridges: Conwy railway bridge over the River Conwy and Britannia Bridge across the Menai Strait. A £50 million signalling upgrade between Shotton and Colwyn Bay was completed in 2018. Travellers see green hills and wide estuaries as the train crosses the border into Wales. Stations like Conwy and Bangor sit close to historic castles and old towns. At Holyhead, ferries leave for Dublin, linking the railway to Ireland. The line still carries freight from Wylfa nuclear power station, loaded at Valley on Anglesey.