Network Rail has confirmed that trains are running through the Portsmouth area again following its completion of a week of upgrade work.

Network Rail’s engineers worked during the day and the night at several sites.

At Portcreek Junction, engineering workers laid 390m of new track and 450m of electric rail. They also replaced two sets of points.

Workers also replaced the wheel timbers at Landport Viaduct with a synthetic alternative, Fibre-reinforced Foamed Urethane.

This structure supports the trains at Portsmouth & Southsea station, and Network Rail expects the new material to last thirty years longer than the current wooden versions, and also anticipates that it will need less work to maintain.

Between Fareham and Portchester, workers cut back several dead, diseased and dangerous trees.

This will reduce the amount of leaves that fall onto the railway, which will help to prevent wheel slip and keep trains running safely and on time.

At Bedhampton, engineering workers laid new track at the level crossing. They also repainted the crossing.

Workers carried out refurbishment work on the Fratton footbridge, in preparation for its planned reopening in April. They worked on the exterior of the bridge and repainted its underside,

Network Rail believes that the upgrade work that it has carried out will help reduce the need for temporary speed restrictions. It also hopes that it will boost the reliability of the railway in the Portsmouth area, and is promising “smoother, quieter, more comfortable and reliable journeys for passengers in the future.”

This weekend, Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 March, the line will close again between Fareham, Havant and Portsmouth, for Network Rail to carry out further work. South West Railway is urging passengers to check before travelling.

“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience while we carried out these vital upgrades to the railway in the Portsmouth area.

“We recognise there is never a good time to close the railway and we chose to undertake these upgrades during the half term week as we know there were fewer passengers travelling thereby reducing the impact of this work.

“This work is part of a wider programme to improve the railway connecting Portsmouth with the rest of the country and further improvement works will be carried out later this year.”

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director