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Friday 13 Dec 2019

Passengers advised to check before they travel if using Guildford station in late December

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

Passengers using Guildford station will need to check before they travel in late December as bridge strengthening and track maintenance works will mean very limited train services.

Between Friday 27 and Monday 30 December, engineers will be improving track drainage and strengthening Farnham Road overbridge by repairing its brick and steelwork.

Between Wednesday 25 and Monday 30 December, Farnham Road overbridge will only be open to pedestrians whilst cleaning, painting, repairs and strengthening works are carried out.

As the strike will still be in place, there will be a limited number of South Western Railway (SWR) services to Guildford via Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon. Buses will replace trains between both Woking and Haslemere and Guildford and Farnham, with passengers travelling to Portsmouth can connect at Haslemere for a train.

CrossCountry trains from Newcastle will only go as far as Reading. Great Western Railway (GWR) services between Reading and Gatwick Airport will run between Reading and Ash only, with buses replacing services between North Camp and Guildford/Gatwick Airport.

Throughout these works, Guildford station car park will have a reduced capacity. Passengers are advised to allow extra time to find alternative parking if the car park is full, with Farnham Road car park and Bedford Road car park suggested as alternatives.

Mark Killick, route director for Network Rail Wessex, said:

"There is never a good time to run limited train services from a busy station like Guildford and we are sorry for the disruption these works will cause. However, with fewer passengers expected between Christmas and the new year, this is the best opportunity to carry out these vital works.

“It's important that we strengthen Farnham Road overbridge so it can continue to accommodate its high levels of traffic for years to come. Alongside that, our track maintenance work will mean a more reliable railway and better journeys for our passengers."

Passengers are reminded to plan ahead and check before they travel with National Rail Enquiries or their train operator and allow more time for their journey.

In April 2020, will be carrying out essential engineering works during a 10-day line closure in and around Guildford station between Friday 10 and Monday 20 April 2020. There will be limited train services on all lines through Guildford, with buses replacing trains.

As part of a package of works, engineers will renew almost one mile of track, more than a mile of conductor rail along with upgrading 41 track circuits (which detect the presence of trains).  These upgrades will provide a more reliable railway and better services for passengers travelling between Woking and Portsmouth, Guildford and Alton, and Reading and Redhill and further details will be provided in the new year.