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Tuesday 7 May 2024

Network Rail completes track upgrades over May Bank Holiday

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

Network Rail engineers completed a range of works over the May Bank Holiday weekend, with all the works completed on time.

Engineers removed life-expired track and installed around half a mile of new track at Wallers Ash between Winchester and Micheldever. Passengers and nearby residents will now benefit from smoother and quieter journeys.

Maintenance teams also took the opportunity to do some spring cleaning with the gutters and canopies at Winchester and Eastleigh stations cleared, while overgrown vegetation near Chandler’s Ford was cut back.

Engineers also worked at Aldershot Junction, renewing the 170m of switches and crossings – the equipment which allow trains to change from one track to another and installing over a mile of new track. Passengers will now be able to enjoy a more reliable junction which connects trains from Reading, Wokingham and Guildford.

Finally, Network Rail’s teams resurfaced Smith’s Level Crossing, south of Wokingham, replacing the old timber surface with a weatherproof one, reducing the amount of maintenance needed due to wear and tear of vehicles using the crossing.

Martin Shirley, Network Rail project manager, said: “We thank our passengers for their patience while we carried out essential engineering work over the bank holiday weekend. We try to carry out our works during the least disruptive times, and bank holidays are when fewer passengers travel. We are sorry for any inconvenience this has caused and hope that passengers can appreciate smoother journeys and nearby residents enjoy quieter trains.”