Network Rail has given warning that train services in south west London and in the Southampton, Portsmouth, and Bournemouth areas will be severely disrupted before and during the Easter holidays.

Work to be carried out during this period will include:

• Stabilisation of a railway cutting between Swanwick and Fareham.
• Strengthening of the footbridge at Hamble station to reduce long-term maintenance costs.
• Clearing vegetation between Fareham and Swanwick to minimise the risk of trees or leaves falling on the railway.
• Replacing wooden wheel timbers on the viaduct over the River Itchen between Bitterne and St Deny’s Fibre-reinforced Foamed Urethane) alternatives that will last 30 years longer than the wooden ones and require less maintenance.

Train service alterations

Between Southampton and Portsmouth

• Trains will not run between 12 and 20 April 2025
• Weekend closures between Southampton Central and Bournemouth will impact Main Line services
• On Easter Sunday, all trains from Southampton Central will be replaced by buses.

Wessex route

• Between 12 and 20 April, there will be changes to train services along the south coast in Hampshire, notably between Southampton and Portsmouth.

Between Twickenham and Teddington

• The line will be closed for three days over the Easter weekend, with trains replaced by buses.

Detailed alterations

Saturday 12 April:

• Buses will replace trains between Eastleigh and Southampton Central, and between Southampton Central and Fareham.
• Services between Southampton Central and Salisbury, Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth will be revised.

Sunday 13 April

• Buses will replace trains between Southampton Central and Bournemouth, Eastleigh and Fareham, and between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier

Monday 14 April to Good Friday 18 April

• Buses will replace trains between Southampton Central and Fareham, calling at all stations.

Easter Saturday 19 April

• Buses will replace trains between:
• Southampton Central and Fareham.
• Southampton Central and Bournemouth.
• Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier.
• Romsey and Southampton Central via Redbridge.

Easter Sunday 20 April

• Buses will replace trains between:
• Eastleigh and Bournemouth, Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier,
• Romsey and Southampton Central via Redbridge.
• Southampton Central and Fareham.

Easter Monday 21 April

• All lines will reopen, with a Sunday (Bank Holiday) service operating..
• Other service changes taking place over Easter

Easter Saturday 19 April to Easter Monday 21 April

• Buses will replace trains between Twickenham and Teddington via Strawberry Hill.

Although shutting down such a large stretch of railway will cause disruptions, traditionally fewer people use the railway during school holidays, making it a better time to close the line rather than having several weekend closures.

Network Rail carried out similar closures last Christmas when major engineering work was carried out in the Woking area. Major engineering work is also being carried out next week, between 10th and 16th March on the Heart of Wessex Line in the Yeovil area, which will affect train services to Weymouth.

“Customers looking to travel with us over the Easter holidays should plan ahead, as buses will replace trains on our routes between Southampton Central, Bournemouth, Fareham and Romsey; Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier; and in the Strawberry Hill area. Journeys may take longer than usual, so we’re also advising customers to check before travelling using a journey planner. We appreciate our customers’ patience during these vitally important engineering works, which will improve reliability and provide better journeys.”