Network Rail are set to complete major upgrades on the line between Windsor & Eton Riverside Staines for a week in February.
The 7-day closure on the South Western Railway (SWR) line will take place between 21st and 27th February.
Engineers from Network Rail will work on a £380m upgrade of the 1970’s signalling infrastructure.
The work will take place round the clock for seven consecutive days in a ‘blockade’ approach instead of back-to-back weekend closures.
This approach will help minimise disruption and deliver reliability benefits to passengers much sooner.
Mark Killick, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Director spoke on the improvement work set to take place.
Mr Killick said: “We’re really grateful for the patience of our customers as we continue these vital improvements.
“Our new signalling system will replace the 1970s technology still in use today and make the line much more reliable.
“By doing the work in bigger chunks called “blockades”, we can avoid a long series of weekend or bank holiday closures over a number of years.
“It means we can deliver the benefits for passengers much quicker, and it’s also more efficient.”
Track, third rail power supply and bridge maintenance work is also set to take place with the clearance of litter and graffiti also taking place.
Christian Neill, SWR’s Customer Experience Director commented on the work taking place between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside.
Mr Neill said: “There’s never a good time to close the railway and… such a long closure will inconvenience our customers.
“Unfortunately, it’s not possible to complete the planned amount of work with trains still running.
“I’d like to reassure customers that these works will provide long term reliability to our services.
“I appreciate it’s hard for people who rely on the railway and we’re very grateful for their patience whilst these works take place.
“I’d like to advise anyone planning to travel to check if their journey will be affected.”
Over the next two years new signalling will also be rolled out in the Feltham, Kew Bridge and Wokingham areas.
This work will form part of the £380m Feltham-Wokingham Resignalling Programme (FWRP).
Work on the FWRP will replace 50-year-old signalling on SWR’s lines in South West London, Surrey and Berkshire.
During the pandemic Network Rail’s Wessex Route has invested £520m on improvements making the most of the quieter railway.
