Network Rail has completed a number of maintenance and upgrade jobs in the Portsmouth area following a week-long closure.

Top priority was Landport Viaduct, a 145-year-old structure, where 10 of the 17 spans required strengthening work, with the remaining seven to undergo similar work at another date.

The appearance of the bridge will be improved with a new paint job currently in progress.

The Cosham and Bedhampton Line to Portsmouth Harbour has seen work too, such as renewing points and heaters. On top of this, some wheel timbers, which support the rails, have been replaced to allow trains to run at faster speeds again.

To improve facilities for Train Operating Companies (TOCs) Great Western Railway (GWR) and South Western Railway (SWR), a new siding has been built at Fratton Train Care Depot.

Wessex route director Mark Killick said: “I’d like to thank our passengers for their patience while we completed this important programme of improvements. All of the work we carried out last week will improve reliability for services in the Portsmouth area for many years to come.”

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