Severe disruption is expected on train services in the Southampton, Fareham, Havant, Eastleigh and Southampton areas during the February half term due to engineering works.
Between Monday, 12 and Friday, 16 February, Network Rail engineers will be working around the clock with buses replacing South Western Railway (SWR), Great Western Railway (GWR) and Southern trains between Southampton Central and Havant, Eastleigh and Portsmouth Harbour, and Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.
At Portsmouth Harbour station, 1094m of track across four platforms will be replaced which includes installing new sleepers, rails, and ballast. The work extend the life expectancy of the track for another 20 years.
At the same time. 592m of track and wheel timbers will be replaced at Vernon Bridge in Portsmouth.
In the Fareham area, 600m of jointed rail engineers together with sleepers and ballast will be replaced.
Between St Denys and Swanwick engineers will continue work to upgrading the signalling system as part of the wider Southampton Area Life Extension programme.
That will installing 12 km of signalling cables upgrade the system to modern standards which will extend its life by another 50 years, meaning fewer faults and delays.
Rail replacement bus services during the closure will operate from Monday, 12 to Friday, 16 February between Southampton Central, Eastleigh and Portsmouth Harbour.
Jeff Rose, Network Rail's blockade programme manager, said: “We're very sorry for any inconvenience our works will cause to the thousands of customers who use this important stretch of line and live between Portsmouth and Southampton. The decision to close the railway is never taken lightly, however we have chosen the February half term to minimise disruption to as many people as possible.
“These works are essential to maintaining and improving railway reliability in the Portsmouth and Fareham areas and will help keep the railway safe. We know that by completing these works now, our customers will benefit for years to come and we'd like to thank them for their patience while we carry out these vital reliability upgrades.
Peter Williams, South Western Railway's customer and commercial director, said: “We're sorry for the disruption that these closures will cause, however, it is important that our colleagues at Network Rail complete these improvements.
“Customers should check carefully before travelling as these closures affect both the route to Portsmouth via Eastleigh and the route to Portsmouth from Southampton Central. Buses will replace trains and customers should allow extra time to complete their journeys.
Jenny Saunders, Govia Thameslink Railway's customer services director, commented: “I'm sorry this work will severely affect our Southern customers on the route west of Havant and in the Portsmouth & Southsea to Portsmouth Harbour areas.
“We'll do everything possible to keep people moving through rail replacement buses but journeys will take much longer and I'd urge you to plan ahead at nationalrail.co.uk and allow plenty of extra time.”
