Passengers are being reminded to only travel if they have to this bank holiday, as Network Rail carries out maintenance work and upgrades to improve the reliability of the railway.
Only work that is necessary will be completed, which allows freight and passenger trains to continue running.
Passengers who do not need to travel are being asked to stay at home and not travel.
Between Saturday 9th May and Monday 11th May 2020, engineers will be completing a number of track upgrades between Epsom, Leatherhead, and Effingham Junction and also between Staines and Whitton.
At Feltham, ballast, which supports the track, is being replaced to improve reliability and to prepare for the opening of the new South Western Railway’s new depot for its new trains.
Other signalling works will take place from Sunday 10th May until Monday 11th May between New Malden and Fulwell, and also between Staines, Weybridge and Ascot.
These works will affect services on South Western Railway and Southern. Passengers who need travel are being asked to plan ahead.
Improvement work will also take place between Fareham and Botley from Saturday 23rd May and Saturday 29th May when the new track will be installed. During these seven days, no trains will run between Fareham and Eastleigh. Rail Replacement Buses will replace South Western Railway trains calling at Eastleigh, Hedge End, Botley and Fareham. Great Western Railway and Southern trains will not serve Eastleigh or Southampton Airport Parkway.
Mark Killick, Network Rail Wessex route director, said:
“Over the early May bank holiday, we will carry out essential engineering projects to make sure our railway is able to support critical workers and for freight services to continue to move goods during the current crisis.
“Those needing to use the rail network should check before travelling and plan their journeys in advance. We urge the public to continue to follow the Government’s advice around the use of public transport.”
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Responses
Network Rail should consider planning ahead for a new flyover to be built at Woking to free up the bottleneck for trains coming from Portsmouth Harbour, Portsmouth & Southsea and Guildford heading towards London Waterloo. As well adding extra additional platforms at Woking.