During February half term, from Saturday 15 to Friday 21 February, parts of the railway between Portsmouth and Havant and Fareham will be closed with trains replaced by buses while Network Rail completes critical engineering upgrades.
During the seven-day line closure, Network Rail engineers will be working around the clock across a number of different worksites, including:
- At Portcreek Junction, engineers will lay 390m of new track and 450m of conductor rail (the part of the track that provides power to the trains), and replace two sets of points - the moveable sections of track that allow trains to move from one line to another.
- At Bedhampton, new track will be laid and ballast put down at the level crossing, which will also be given a fresh lick of paint.
- Between Quay Viaduct, Fareham and Portchester power sub-station, a number of dead, diseased and dangerous trees will be removed to reduce leaf fall onto railway tracks and help keep trains running safely and on time.
- Fratton footbridge will be also refurbished to bring it up to modern loading standards, with scaffolding erected to allow engineers to work on the exterior elevations of the structure including painting the underside of the bridge.
These upgrades and specifically the replacement of new track will help reduce the need for temporary speed restrictions and boost the reliability of the railway in this area, making for smoother, quieter, more comfortable and reliable journeys for passengers in the future.
Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Director, said:
“There’s never a good time to close the railway but the February half term will see fewer passengers using our services."
"Our engineers will be working across a number of worksites to complete a range of really important upgrades that, once complete, will make for more reliable and enjoyable journeys for the many passengers who travel on this busy and critical part of the rail network.”
Image credit: Govia Thameslink