VIDEO: Portsmouth Direct line to close for 9 days

The Portsmouth Direct line between Guildford and Petersfield will be closed for nine days until Sunday, 20 February for a major track upgrade.

The work is part of a £94 million programme of improvements between Farncombe and Petersfield that will eventually replace 1970s signalling with a state-of-the-art system controlled from Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre.

Engineers will work around the clock on critical track maintenance, and upgrades to signalling, level crossings, and stations.

During the closure, engineers will carry out preparation work for the re-signalling programme, including laying new cables at Farncombe East, Milford, Haslemere, and Princes Bridge and Petersfield level crossings.

Critical track maintenance work will also be carried out, including drainage improvements to reduce flood-related delays, and replacing wheel timbers, heavy wooden blocks that support the track, on the bridge over the River Wey.

Alternative services that will operate whilst the line is closed include:

• between Guildford and Petersfield, rail replacement buses will operate;
• On Saturday 12 February, then between Monday 14 and Sunday 20 February, South Western Railway (SWR) services will start and terminate at Guildford;
• On Sunday 13 February, a rail shuttle service will operate between Havant and Portsmouth Harbour, with buses replacing trains from Guildford to Havant;
• On Sunday 20 February, Great Western Railway (GWR) services between Gatwick Airport and Redhill will terminate at Guildford. Buses will replace trains between Guildford and Shalford.

Additional works to be carried out during the closure include:

• Liss level crossing will be resurfaced;
• Witley station will have both platforms resurfaced, tactile paving for blind and partially sighted people will be installed, and the station brightened up with a lick of paint.
• Godalming station car park will be resurfaced, the canopy on platform 2 will be repaired, and a fresh coat of paint will be applied.

The resignalling scheme, together with new points and crossings at Petersfield and Haslemere, will increase the speed at which trains can travel on the line.

By the time the whole programme has been completed in 2024, 12 level crossings on the route will have been upgraded to make them safer for drivers and pedestrians.

Last year, two extended line closures last year took place on Network Rail's Wessex Route which allowed major improvements to be completed much quicker than the traditional approach of a series of weekend closures over many years.

Mark Killick, Network Rail's Wessex route director, said: “When the resignalling is finished in 2024, passengers travelling between London Waterloo and Portsmouth will enjoy a much more reliable railway, with fewer delays.

“There's never a good time to close such a busy part of the network, but doing the work over nine consecutive days means we can minimise disruption for passengers, the people who live by the railway, and the wider economy.

“We're working closely with South Western Railway to make sure people can still travel, but I would encourage passengers to plan ahead and check before you travel.”

Christian Neill, SWR's Customer Experience Director, said: “The work taking place on the Portsmouth line marks the start of a huge investment in railway infrastructure which will improve customer journeys for years to come.

“I realise these works will mean disruption for our customers; however, replacement buses will be in operation wherever lines need to be closed and I'd encourage anyone traveling with us to check to see if their journey will be affected. I'd also like to thank our customers for their patience whilst these essential works are carried out.”