Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) are continuing their major investment programme on the Portsmouth Direct Line, with the next phase of signalling and track upgrades taking place from Monday 25 May to Friday 29 May.
During the five‑day closure, buses will replace trains between Havant, Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour, allowing engineers to deliver a concentrated programme of work safely and efficiently.
Havant resignalling programme
Work to upgrade signalling in the Havant and Portsmouth area began in March 2026, replacing ageing equipment that has become increasingly unreliable. Over the past year alone, signalling failures on the route have resulted in more than 18,500 minutes of delay, underlining the need for long‑term intervention.
The Havant resignalling programme will see an additional £120 million invested in the Portsmouth Direct Line. Once completed in 2028, control of signalling will transfer from the Havant Area Signalling Centre to the Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre. This move is expected to significantly improve communication between Network Rail and South Western Railway teams, enabling faster responses to incidents and more effective day‑to‑day management of the railway.
Building on work delivered during the Easter closure, engineers will use the May half‑term period to progress the next stage of the programme. This includes preparatory activity such as laying materials and undertaking vegetation management to support the wider resignalling works.
Further major blockades are planned for October 2026 and February 2027, when teams will return to continue the delivery of the scheme.
Additional improvements delivered during the closure
Alongside signalling preparations, the five‑day closure will also be used to complete a range of targeted infrastructure upgrades across the route:
- Renewal of 18 wheel timbers on Portcreek viaduct. The new fibre‑reinforced foamed urethane (FFU) timbers offer a lifespan of up to 50 years, with improved durability and lower maintenance requirements.
- Strengthening of two bridges between Fratton and Portsmouth Harbour.
- Cleaning of glass on the high‑level platforms at Portsmouth & Southsea station.
- Renewal of three sets of switches and crossings in the Fratton area.
- Refurbishment of the footbridge at Fratton station.
In total, engineers will complete around 1,660 hours of work during the closure. Once finished, the programme is expected to deliver smoother, more reliable journeys for passengers and a more resilient railway for operators.
Image credits: HS2
