South Western Railway (SWR) is advising customers to plan ahead of Sunday 2nd and Sunday 9th February.
Engineers will complete maintenance in the Wimbledon area, affecting services across the SWR network. Services between London Waterloo, Exeter, Portsmouth and Weymouth, will take longer than usual as trains will be diverted.
Network Rail engineers will finish work to renew approximately 800 metres of track, ballast, and sleepers between Wimbledon and Earlsfield.
They will also replace points (moveable sections of track that allow trains to move from one line to another) and install 100 meters of conductor rail, which powers trains.
When complete, the work will improve the reliability of the track in the area. It will also reduce the number of faults caused by rail and wheel wear and provide customers with a smoother ride as the layout of the track is improved.
Separately, engineering work in Portsmouth will mean further changes to train services.
Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s Customer and Commercial Director, said:
“With engineering work continuing in the Wimbledon area, and a six-day closure starting in the Portsmouth area, many of our services will be revised, diverted or replaced by buses."
“When this vital maintenance is completed, our customers can expect better journeys and a more reliable railway. We appreciate our customers’ patience and once again would like to encourage them to check before travelling.”
Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Director, said:
“There’s never a good time to close the railway, and I’m sorry we are impacting passengers across south west London over consecutive Sundays.
“We always try and find the least disruptive window to deliver these essential engineering works. Completing these upgrades back-to-back is the most efficient and cost-effective option for the taxpayer.”
Image credit: Network Rail
