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Rail passengers urged to check ahead as work begins at Guildford

The biggest rail investment in almost 40 years at Guildford is set to begin on Good Friday (Apr 10) with passengers, who need to use the railway for necessary travel at this time, advised to check ahead before travel.

On Friday, upgrades on track and signalling will begin and although services will resume from the station to London Waterloo via Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon from Tuesday (Apr 14), other services will not run until April 20^th as per the current revised timetable.

Bus replacement services will be running throughout the vital works, the details of which can be found on SWR and GWR websites.

The upgrades to track and signalling will provide more reliable journeys for passengers who travel between London Waterloo and Guildford, Woking and Portsmouth, Reading and Redhill, and Guildford and Aldershot. The essential work will also enable the removal of two existing speed restrictions.

Guildford junction was last upgraded in the early 1980s, and following almost 40 years of heavy traffic, plus a rising demand for services, the works will provide a more reliable railway for passengers for years to come.

Network Rail Wessex route director, Mark Killick, said: “We apologise to those affected during the essential upgrades. To ensure the ongoing reliability and safe running of the railway, it is vital that we deliver these much-needed works in the Guildford area. 

“I would like to urge people who do need to travel by rail, such as those who can’t work from home, to plan ahead and check before they travel.”

Southwestern Railway Customer Experience Director, Alan Penlington, said: “We know that closing the railway will be inconvenient for those making essential journeys, however, we will ensure that people can still complete their journeys via replacement bus services and alternative rail routes.

“Journey planners have been updated and we urge anyone who needs to travel over the Easter period to check in advance, as journeys may take longer than usual.”