Buses will replace trains on the lines surrounding Guildford over the August Bank Holiday weekend Saturday 23rd August – Monday 25th August while vital engineering improvements are carried out on the South Western Railway network.
The lines connecting Ascot, Guildford and Alton will be closed throughout the weekend, while the line linking Surbiton and Effingham Junction will also see no passenger train services.
Passengers are urged to check before they travel and plan ahead as their journeys are likely to be affected.
Ascot/Guildford to Alton
Engineers will replace the footbridge at Bentley station, between Farnham and Alton. The old footbridge will be removed, with a crane lifting the new bridge into position.
In the Ash Vale area, teams will be carrying out improvements to the electrical supply to the track. Teams will also be clearing vegetation and litter between Farnham and Alton
Rail replacement bus services will run from Farnborough to Alton and also between Ascot and Guildford.
Surbiton to Effingham Junction
Engineers will replace 14 wheel timbers in the Cobham & Stoke D’Abernon area. Wheel timbers are long blocks which support the track underneath. The new wheel timbers, which were produced from recycled material, have an extended lifespan of 50 years, are more durable and require less maintenance.
Teams are also carrying out improvements to the earthworks around the track in the Cobham area, including tree felling and carrying out surveys.
Other minor work will be taking place near Effingham Junction, Horsley, London Road (Guildford) and in Bookham Tunnel.
On Saturday 23rd and Monday 25rd August buses will replace trains between Surbiton and Effingham Junction. On Sunday 24th, buses will replace trains between Guildford and Surbiton, via Effingham, and Leatherhead.
Speaking on behalf of Network Rail and South Western Railway, Mark Goodall, Wessex route director, said: “We are grateful to our passengers for their patience whilst we carry out essential engineering work over the August Bank Holiday weekend. We try to carry out our works during the least disruptive times, and bank holidays are when fewer passengers travel.
We are sorry for any inconvenience this causes, most of our route will remain open as usual, but some services will be affected so we’re asking passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel.”
Image credit: Network Rail
