Media centre

Monday 7 Dec 2020

Passengers reminded to plan ahead as a package of Christmas and New Year improvements comes to South West London and Hampshire

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

Passengers in South West London and Hampshire are reminded to plan ahead with Network Rail set to carry out improvement work over Christmas and new year to maintain and upgrade the railway for passengers

As part of the industry’s safer travel pledge, rail companies are taking steps so that passengers using the network can travel with confidence, including cleaning more frequently and using powerful, long lasting, anti-viral products. Passengers should also wash their hands regularly and wear a face covering, unless exempt.

Between Friday 25 December 2020 and Monday 4 January 2021, engineers will carry out a major programme of work between Clapham Junction and Waterloo , which will see more reliable services and increased connectivity for passengers on the route.

Engineers will renew sections of track and upgrade switches and crossings (which allow trains to move between tracks) at a place called Nine Elms Junction. Resignalling work, vegetation clearance and track and bridge inspections will also take place in the area to take advantage of the lower numbers of trains running.

While that work is completed there will be a reduced number of services between Clapham Junction and London Waterloo. At both stations, queuing systems are likely to be in place and platforms 12-20 at London Waterloo will be closed. Vauxhall and Queenstown Road stations will also be closed throughout.

On the same dates, the line between Basingstoke and Salisbury will be closed while engineers strengthen Millway Road bridge in Andover and clear vegetation between Whitchurch and Andover.

Buses will run between Basingstoke and Salisbury and there will be a revised train service between Salisbury and Exeter St Davids.

Some of the other improvement work to provide a more reliable railway includes:

• Upgrades to the switches and crossings between Hook and Basingstoke and at Eastleigh West junction, which starts late in the evening on Christmas Eve and finishes on the morning of Sunday 27 December
• Testing new signals as part of the Feltham Area resignalling scheme, set to take place between late in the evening on Christmas Eve and finish the morning of Sunday 27 December
• New track will be laid and Cow Lane bridge near Cosham, Portsmouth will be rebuilt between Friday 1 and Sunday 3 January 2021 (plus 17 January).
• Replacing timber structures on bridge between Fratton and Portsmouth Harbour, on Sunday 3 and Monday 4 January 2021

Passengers should check their journey before they travel. A summary of the amended timetable and bus replacement services are available at www.southwesternrailway.com/christmas

Mark Killick, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: “Our staff have continued to work tirelessly throughout the pandemic to maintain and upgrade the railway for those who need it. This festive period will be no different, and our vital work will keep the railway running reliably and smoothly for many years to come.

“That means some journeys may be different, so please travel safely, follow the latest public health advice and check your journey before leaving home.” 

Alan Penlington, director of customer services at South Western Railway, said: “The works being carried out by Network Rail this festive period are vital to ensure the future reliability of the network.

“We’re doing all we can to help keep our customers moving, including putting on rail replacement services and arranging ticket acceptance with other train operating companies for affected journeys.

“We’re asking all customers planning to travel in the 10 days following Christmas to check before they travel and for more details on what work is taking place, to visit our dedicated webpage; southwesternrailway.com/christmas.”