Media centre

Wednesday 15 Jun 2016

Passengers reminded of drop-in events to find out more about railway upgrade between Fulwell and Shepperton

Region & Route:

| Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail and South West Trains are reminding passengers and those living near the railway to find out more about upcoming work to improve drainage and reduce the risk of flooding between Fulwell and Shepperton.

The £6m investment is part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan and will see a new pumping station built as part of a wider programme of drainage improvements to the line, much of which is below the water level of the nearby Longford River.

A series of drop-in sessions will be taking place at the following stations before the work starts:

• Fulwell: 20 June, 4.30pm to 6.30pm and 24 June, 7am to 9am
• Shepperton: 21 June, 7am to 9am and 29 June, 4.30pm to 6.30pm
• Upper Halliford: 22 June, 7am to 9am
• Sunbury: 23 June, 7am to 9am and 30 June, 4.30pm to 6.30pm
• Hampton: 28 June, 4.30pm to 6.30pm and 1 July, 7am to 9am

Paula Williams, community relations executive for Network Rail, said: “The upgrade at Fulwell will mean better, more reliable services for passengers, but it will mean some short-term changes to journeys while the improvements take place.

“We want everyone to stay informed so we’re inviting everyone – passengers and the local community – to find out more about the work that’s taking place and the impact it will have.”

During the upgrades it will be necessary for Network Rail to close the railway from Shepperton to Teddington and Strawberry Hill for two weeks, from 16 to 30 July. Trains from Waterloo will terminate at Teddington and Strawberry Hill stations and South West Trains will operate a bus replacement service between Shepperton and Teddington/Strawberry Hill to keep passengers moving.

While the line is closed for the drainage upgrade, Network Rail will also take the opportunity to carry out preparatory work for planned replacement of the signalling system on this stretch of track. This brings forward part of a larger programme of resignalling work taking place in south west London and will reduce the need for future closures of the line for this work. Network Rail hopes to bring the signal equipment between Fulwell and Shepperton into use in October 2017.

ENDS