Landslip causes reduced weekend train services

Emergency repair work set to impact trains on Sunday 24 March

Author: Chris TatePublished 23rd Mar 2024

There will be a reduced train service and buses replacing some trains this Sunday between Basingstoke and Woking, and between Woking and Aldershot.

Emergency work is needed because of a landslip caused by recent heavy rainfall.

The public are advised to check before they travel, as train services through the Farnborough area will be affected while engineers carry out repairs.

The work will be completed in time for the start of service on Monday 25 March.

Two tracks of the four tracks through the area will remain open meaning that some trains can still pass through.

Matt Pocock is Network Rail’s route director for Wessex, he said:

“We’re sorry for the inconvenience to customers on Sunday, but we've had some very wet weather recently, and because of this we need to repair a small landslip on a railway cutting north of Farnborough, so that we can stabilise it and stop it from slipping further.”

"Because engineers will require access to two of the four tracks through the area, a reduced service will operate on Sunday, there will be changes to train times and buses will replace trains for some journeys.”

“I would like to thank customers and local residents for their patience and understanding whilst our teams will be working hard to stabilise the cutting to prevent any future landslips.”

Additionally, a South Western Railway spokesperson has said:

“Customers should check before travelling this Sunday and allow extra time to complete their journeys.”

“There will be major alterations for services between London Waterloo and Southampton Central, Portsmouth via Basingstoke, Exeter St Davids, and Salisbury. Rail replacement buses will serve stations between Basingstoke and Woking, and between Woking and Aldershot.”

“We’re very sorry for this disruption and thank our customers for their patience.”

South Western Railway services will be amended as follows:

Buses will replace trains between Basingstoke and Woking

Buses will run between Woking and Aldershot, calling at Brookwood and Ash Vale

Services between Woking and Alton will run between Guildford and Alton only

Services from London Waterloo to Southampton Central, Exeter St Davids and Portsmouth Harbour via Basingstoke will depart much earlier than usual, running non-stop between Woking and Basingstoke

Stopping services between London Waterloo and Salisbury will only run between Basingstoke and Salisbury after 17:00

Stopping services between London Waterloo and Southampton Central will only run between Basingstoke and Southampton Central after 15:00

The public are advised to check before they travel at www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey.