Train services through Salisbury will be disrupted on Saturday, 18 December, when Network Rail engineers complete repairs to the track outside Fisherton tunnel that was damaged in an incident in October.

After the incident, the track through the tunnel and across the junction outside the tunnel had to be replaced. Since then the track has settled and bedded as trains ran over it. The work is expected to last until early afternoon.

During the work, there will be no trains through Salisbury, with rail-replacement buses replacing South Western Railway and Great Western Railway trains between Salisbury and Andover/Romsey/Southampton.

Summary of service alterations:

Friday, 17 December

• Minor alterations to the last trains through Salisbury.

Saturday, 18 December

• Rail-replacement buses will run between Salisbury and Andover until early afternoon, with revised train services on either side of the engineering work;
• Great Western Railway services between Cardiff Central and Portsmouth Harbour will be replaced by buses between Salisbury and Southampton Central;
• Salisbury to Romsey via Southampton services will not run until early afternoon, with replacement bus services operating between Salisbury and Romsey;
• From early afternoon, a revised service will run between London Waterloo, Salisbury, and Exeter.

South Western Railway tickets will be accepted on Great Western Railway and CrossCountry services via any reasonable route.

Further information about service changes can be found on the GWR and SWR websites.

Network Rail’s route director for Wessex, Mark Killick, said: “I’m really sorry for this extra disruption so close to Christmas.  When we replace track as part of our planned work, we make sure we come in a few weeks later to make sure the track is still aligned properly. In this instance, we’ve had to find a day when there’s little other work going on across the area, to keep disruption to a minimum for customers.

“Although I realise it’s not ideal, there will be a bus replacement service in the morning, with trains back in the afternoon, and I’d ask customers to check before they travel.”

Claire Mann, Managing Director of South Western Railway, said: “We’re sorry for the short-notice changes to services through Salisbury on the Saturday before Christmas, as Network Rail carry out essential engineering works. Replacement buses will be in place between Salisbury and Andover and our customers will be able to use tickets on Great Western Railway and CrossCountry services, via any reasonable route.”

Great Western Railway Managing Director, Mark Hopwood said: “We really appreciate customers’ patience as the final stages of repair work is completed. We’ve worked closely with Network Rail and other train operators to keep disruption to a minimum, but please do check your journey before you travel.”