POWYS rail users, including those planning on attending the Royal Welsh Show, could face delays this weekend.

Transport for Wales (TfW) has announced that the entire Heart of Wales Line rail service will be replaced by road transport on Saturday and Sunday, July 22 and 23.

Rail users will still be able to travel the Heart of Wales Line route – which operates between Swansea and Shrewsbury – but will have to do so by road.

“Owing to operational challenges around our network, all Heart of Wales line services on 22 and 23 July will be replaced with road transport,” said TfW on its website.

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“We recognise that this will be disappointing for our customers and we apologise for the inconvenience caused. Customers should check journey planning websites prior to travel.”

The Heart of Wales Line is a spectacular rural railway travelling through the centre of mid and south Powys. Its scenic Powys stops include Bucknell, Knighton, Knucklas (where it has also been announced that the station’s customer service information system is out of order), Llangunllo, Llanbister Road, Dolau, Penybont, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Road, Cilmeri, Garth, Llangammarch Wells and Llanwrtyd Wells.

The seven-days-a-week train service is operated by TfW and is much loved by day trippers, cyclists and walkers, who hop aboard to view the spectacular scenery and explore walking and cycling routes along the Offa’s Dyke Path and Glyndwr’s Way, Wye Valley Walk, Cambrian Mountains and Brecon Beacons.

Travel along the route this weekend is likely to be busier than normal due to the Royal Welsh Show at Builth Wells next week. The iconic event starts Monday, July, 24, and finishes on Thursday.