Passengers travelling between Eastleigh and Fareham in southeast Hampshire face another week of disruption next week, following last week’s suspension of service for emergency stabilisation work.

Network Rail has thanked passengers for their patience last week, when its engineers were working night and day to stabilise a cutting to prevent landslips at Fareham.

Just two years ago, Network Rail spent over two million pounds on landslip prevention work in the area, but despite this, has needed to carry out extra work as a matter of urgency.

Workers installed 289 soil steel nails, each of which is twenty-five metres long, drilling them into the slope and reinforcing them with concrete to support the cutting and protect the railway.

Next week, from Monday 12 to Friday 16 February – the weeks of schools’ half-term break – engineers will carry out major track renewal works in the area, and buses will replace trains.

The lines between Southampton and Portsmouth Harbour and Eastleigh and Havant will be closed while Network Rail renews rails at Fareham and upgrades rail over four platforms at Portsmouth Harbour.

Travel advice can be found using the links below:

• South Western Railway – More information is available here.
• Great Western Railway -More information is available here.
• Southern Railway -More information is available here.

Matt Pocock, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “After the recent severe weather, our teams spotted land movement which meant we had to act quickly to prevent a much worse and disruptive landslip.

“I’m really sorry that this emergency closure had to take place so close to works already planned for the February half term next week, but the safety of our customers and railway colleagues has been our priority.

“I’d like to thank customers and local residents for their continued patience and understanding while our teams complete the work needed stabilise the slope as quickly and safely as possible so we can get customers moving again.”

Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s customer and commercial director said: “We’re very grateful for our customers’ continued patience. While last week’s closure between Eastleigh and Fareham came at short notice, it was vital that landslip prevention work was carried out.

“Next week’s closure for planned improvements will once again mean that rail replacement bus services will run and train services will be amended, so customers should check before travelling.”

Jenny Saunders, Govia Thameslink Railway’s customer services director, commented: “I’m sorry this work will severely affect our Southern customers on the route west of Havant and in the Portsmouth & Southsea to Portsmouth Harbour areas.

“We’ll do everything possible to keep people moving through rail replacement buses but journeys will take much longer and I’d urge you to plan ahead at nationalrail.co.uk and allow plenty of extra time.”