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Monday 21 Apr 2025

COMPLETED: Train services return between Southampton and Portsmouth following essential railway maintenance

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Train services have resumed running this morning (Monday 21 April) on the line connecting Southampton and Portsmouth via St Denys and Fareham, following the completion of critical improvements to the railway.

During the nine-day closure, Network Rail engineers stabilised a 300m section of embankment between Swanwick and Fareham by installing a metal sheet pile wall. Now complete, this work will help keep trains running reliably and reduce the likelihood of disruption from landslips in this area.

Engineers completed a range of other work in the area including:

• Strengthening the footbridge at Hamble station to reduce long-term maintenance costs.
• Cutting back overgrown hedges and trees along the line between Fareham and Swanwick stations to prevent trees or leaves from falling on the railway and disrupting services.
• Replacing 10 wooden wheel timbers - the blocks that carry the tracks over a bridge - with synthetic ones (Fibre-reinforced Foamed Urethane) on the viaduct over the River Itchen, which last 30 years longer and require less maintenance.
• Conducting rail maintenance including testing and lubrication.

Today, Easter Monday, buses will replace trains will run between Twickenham and Teddington via Strawberry Hill in south west London, while engineers upgrade the switches and crossings in the area, which allow the trains to change track. Normal services resume tomorrow (Tuesday) morning.

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “I’d like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding while our teams have completed this important work over the Easter break.

“I recognise the piling work to stabilise the embankment between Swanwick and Fareham, at times, may have been noisy for residents living nearby for which I’m sorry for any disruption caused.

“We’re committed to running a safe, reliable and punctual railway and the work we have completed is an integral part in fulfilling this commitment.”

Southern’s Customer Service Director, Jenny Saunders, said: “These works have ensured the reliability of services on the line for years to come, and I’d like to thank our passengers for being patient while engineers were hard at work on our railway.

“The line between Southampton and Brighton has some great destinations – and with the tracks back open, I’d encourage people to make the most of our regular service along the coast."

Peter Williams, SWR’s Customer and Commercial Director said: “We are very pleased that the line connecting Southampton and Portsmouth has reopened after this essential maintenance work to improve reliability and reduce disruption in the area. We are very grateful to our customers for their patience and look forward to welcoming them back on our services.”