Network Rail has issued a warning about changes to South Western Railway train services in the Kingston area of southwest London next month because of essential engineering work.

The work is scheduled for between Saturday, 14th and Tuesday, 17th February, with buses replacing trains between New Malden and Twickenham.

Train services on the Shepperton branch will also be suspended on Saturday, 14th and Sunday, 16th February, with trains replaced by a rail replacement bus service. The disruption is to enable engineers to work on the Kingston River Bridge and carry out renewal of its track support system. Train services on the Shepperton branch will operate on Monday, 16th and Tuesday, 17th February, but they will be diverted via Twickenham, and will not call at stations on the Kingston Loop.

The work will contribute to improving the reliability of train services and will reduce the requirement for maintenance in the future, with its attendant disruption of train services.

The closure of the line will also enable engineers to carry out other maintenance tasks in the area, including outstanding work on signalling at Shacklegate in Teddington following completion of the Feltham and Wokingham Area Resignalling Programme.

Other work during the weekend will include the demolition of redundant buildings at Strawberry Hill and Shepperton that originally housed signalling equipment, and the renewal of the surface on the level crossing at Hampton.

Anyone intending to travel during the weekend should check journey planners before they travel, and check online for any updates.

Services in the area were also disrupted last Easter because of engineering work.

“We’re asking passengers to plan ahead during the February half term, as buses will replace trains on parts of the network in south west London. We’d like to thank customers for their patience while this work takes place.”

George Murrell, Wessex Route Renewals Director, speaking on behalf of Network Rail and South Western Railway