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Monday 4 Nov 2024

COMPLETED: Lymington branch line reopens following first phase of track upgrades

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Train services on the Lymington branch line resumed this morning (Monday 4 November) following a week-long closure for track vital upgrades.

Over the past week, Network Rail’s team of engineers replaced nearly a mile of track on the stretch of line between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier, significantly improving reliability and reducing the number of faults.

The new track has been treated by a specialist Land Rover able to travel both on the road and the railway – known as a Sand Rover – which applied a sticky sand-like gel to help trains grip the tracks during particularly wet and slippery conditions. There is also a coating on the new rails reducing the speed at which the new rails corrode, helping improve their longevity, which is particularly useful in this coastal environment.

Due to the complex nature of the works, a second closure will be required to make improvements to the viaduct over Lymington River.

The second phase of this work will see the railway closed from 21 December 2024 until 6 January 2025 and will improve the durability of the structure to ensure the viaduct continues to carry passengers safely and reliably over Lymington River into the future.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “We appreciate passengers’ patience during this period and are sorry for any inconvenience caused by the work. This maintenance was crucial for the continued safe and reliable operation of the Lymington branch line.

 “Throughout the project, we worked closely with our train operator partner, South Western Railway, and Wightlink Ferry company to ensure passengers could continue their journeys seamlessly.  We will maintain close collaboration with our partners to ensure the Christmas closure also runs smoothly.”

An SWR spokesperson added: “We are pleased to see the line between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier reopen, restoring both connectivity for our customers in Lymington and the link with the Isle of Wight. The follow-up closure in December and early January is one of a number of engineering projects on our network over the Christmas period, so we’d like to take this opportunity to encourage customers to plan ahead.”