Monday 25 Apr 2022
Major changes to train services on Hounslow line in May after engineering work moved forward 24-hours
- Region & Route:
- Southern
- | Southern: Wessex
Network Rail engineers changed their plans so the return of the much-loved Army vs Navy rugby match at Twickenham on Saturday 30 April can go ahead with a full train service.
It means work to install over 10km of new cables and new signalling equipment on the Hounslow Loop line - which connects London Waterloo with Chiswick, Richmond, Twickenham, Hounslow and Brentford – will happen over the Bank Holiday weekend from Sunday, 1 May, continuing until Wednesday, 4 May.
Network Rail’s managing director for Wessex route, Mark Killick, said: “It’s fantastic to see the Army Navy match back on after so long and I’m pleased we’ve been able to move our work so fans can travel to and from the game by train. It does mean that we are going to be doing our engineering work well into the working week though, and it’s important that customers work out their routes to their workplaces.
“There will be replacement buses running along with the usual buses in the area, and the main line via Twickenham is going to be open throughout.
“This is part of a massive £375m scheme to improve the railway in the area and reduce the delays caused by signalling faults. Resignalling schemes like this one, and the track work that goes with it, are one of the best ways we have of improving the reliability of our network, so it’s really important we do the job and I’m grateful to our customers for their patience.”
The £375m Feltham and Wokingham resignalling scheme covers more than 80 miles of railway and over 500 pieces of signalling equipment.
The programme, which will finish in 2024, is replacing 1970s signalling infrastructure – the traffic lights of the railway – with a modern equivalent that will be much more reliable.
Once all those renewals and upgrades are complete, we will move control of the signalling system from Feltham and Wokingham to the state-of-the-art Wessex Rail Operating Centre (ROC) in Basingstoke.
The programme reached the halfway stage last weekend when new signalling kit was switched on in the Ascot and Virginia Water area, with new signalling technology on the Hounslow Loop set to go live in August next year 2023, before the final phase in Wokingham is switched on in 2024.
Christian Neill, SWR’s Customer Experience Director, said: “The work Network Rail is carrying out is set to significantly boost the reliability and performance of the railway, making it easier to get our customers to where they need to be.
“Closing the railway for four days is never a decision taken lightly, especially when two of those days are during the working week. Whilst it is important that to be able to keep leisure travellers and thousands of rugby fans moving on the Saturday, we’re urging anyone traveling from Sunday to Wednesday to check before they travel as a range of alternative transport options are available in the area.
“We’d also like to thank anyone impacted by these works for their patience and understanding as we work to enhance our network.”
For more information see https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/our-routes/wessex/feltham-and-wokingham-re-signalling-programme/
Notes to Editors
From the start of the day on Sunday to the end of the day on Wednesday, trains will not run between Barnes and Feltham (via Hounslow). Rail replacement buses will run between these stations on this route.
Sunday Rail Replacement Services:
1 bus per hour – Barnes to Feltham calling all at stations via Hounslow.
1 bus per hour – Barnes to Twickenham calling at all stations via Hounslow (Sunday afternoon and evening only)
Monday Rail Replacement Services:
2 buses per hour – Barnes to Feltham calling all stations via Hounslow
Tuesday & Wednesday Rail Replacement Services:
2 buses per hour – Barnes to Feltham calling all at stations via Hounslow.
2 buses per hour – Barnes to Twickenham calling at all stations via Hounslow (peak hours only)
Trains will run as normal between Barnes and Feltham via Richmond and Twickenham. We would however urge anyone traveling by train through this area on these dates to plan ahead and check before they travel as the engineering works will mean trains are retimed. Local buses will also be available as usual.
The timings of the replacement bus services are now available for people to plan their journeys here.
Future closures in the area
After this four-day closure, further work on the project will close the railway on the weekends of 7 / 8 May and 14/ 15 May.
While work takes place, the lines between Clapham Junction and Richmond and Clapham Junction to Kew bridge will be closed.
No trains will call at stations on the affected lines during both weekends and trains that usually call at these stations or travel on this section of line will be retimed or service levels reduced. Customers should check before you travel to see if their journey is affected.
For customers needing to use the affected stations, a rail replacement bus service will be in operation, in both directions on both weekends:
- Six buses per hour from Clapham Junction to Twickenham calling at all stations except St Margaret’s
- Two buses per hour from Clapham to Kew Bridge calling at all stations
- Local buses and other train services that do not use these lines will be available as usual.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Network Rail press office - Chris Denham
Senior media relations manager
020 3357 7969
07515 626530
chris.denham@networkrail.co.uk
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