Media centre

Tuesday 6 May 2025

Passengers thanked as Network Rail complete vital upgrades in Basingstoke over the Bank Holiday weekend

Region & Route:

Southern: Wessex

| Southern

Network Rail are thanking passengers for their patience and understanding after we completed a raft of upgrades in the Basingstoke area over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Over the two-day closure, Network Rail’s engineers replaced the track that runs through Platform 4 at Basingstoke station as well as between Fleet and Farnborough stations. At Farnborough, the ‘third’ electric rail was also renewed.

Taking advantage of the closure, engineers completed a range of other work, including improving how the electric current is fed to the railway west of Basingstoke; testing and commissioning new power cables between Winchester and Worting Junction, where the main line from London splits with services heading towards Salisbury and Southampton; and strengthening the embankment near Hook. Teams also carried out track replacement and embankment stabilisation in the Bramley area.

Engineers also removed 220 tonnes worth of scrap material from the railway to be recycled.

This work was part of a £133m package spread across 630 projects across Britain’s railway. Railways are usually quieter during weekends, particularly on key commuter routes into major cities, therefore providing an opportunity to improve our railway whilst minimising disruption for passengers and freight users.

Mark Goodall, Wessex Route Director for Network Rail, said: “We would like to thank passengers for their patience and understanding over the Bank Holiday weekend while we carried out these essential improvements. Closing the line in the Basingstoke area is very impactful to our passengers and we chose the Bank Holiday because we generally see lower passenger numbers at this time. This work will provide smoother and more reliable journeys through the area and we are also delighted to have removed a large amount of scrap material from the railway.”

Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s Customer and Commercial Director said: "We're very pleased to see this vital maintenance completed on time and we'd like to thank our customers for their patience over the Bank Holiday weekend whilst this wide range of important upgrades were completed. 

"These improvements, which included track and power cable replacement, will make journeys through the area more comfortable and reliable for our customers”.

GWR Station Manager Steve Gray said: “This continuous programme of investment and improvement ensures that customers can continue to use the railway reliably, unlocking the full benefits that rail brings to the local and national economy.

“There is never a good time to close the line, however doing these works over the long weekend, helps to minimise the impact, and we are grateful to those affected for their patience.”