Trains are running through to Portsmouth Harbour again after Network Rail and South Western Railway (SWR) completed their latest phase of upgrade work on the Portsmouth Direct Line.
Between Monday 25 and Friday 29 May, engineers continued work to improve the resilience of infrastructure on the south coast while also progressing the next stage of the Havant re-signalling programme.
Work to upgrade signalling in the Havant and Portsmouth area began in March 2026, replacing ageing equipment that is increasingly unreliable. Over the past year, signalling failures have caused more than 18,500 minutes of delays on the line.
The Havant resignalling programme will see an additional £120 million invested in the Portsmouth Direct Line, on top of the £129million Farncombe to Petersfield resignalling programme. When completed in 2028, signalling will transfer from the Havant Area Signalling Centre to the Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre. This will improve communication between Network Rail and South Western Railway teams to better manage the railway and respond more quickly to incidents.
Building on the work delivered during the Easter closure, engineers used the May half-term period to progress the next stage of the Havant re-signalling programme. During this closure, teams continued their preparatory work for the re-signalling programme, which included laying materials and vegetation management to support the upgrade. Engineers will return in October 2026 and February 2027 to continue their work.
During the five-day closure, engineers carried out a range of additional improvements, including:
- Renewing 18 wheel timbers – the long blocks that support the track on Portcreek viaduct. The new timbers are made from fibre-reinforced foamed urethane (FFU), offering a lifespan of up to 50 years, improved durability and reduced maintenance.
- Strengthening two bridges between Fratton and Portsmouth Harbour.
- Cleaning the glass on the high-level platforms at Portsmouth & Southsea station.
- Renewing three sets of switches and crossings in the Fratton area.
- Refurbishing the footbridge at Fratton station.
In total, engineers carried out around 1,660 hours of work during the closure. When complete, passengers will benefit from smoother, more reliable journeys.
We will be returning in October to continue with the next phase of our Havant Re-signalling programme. More details will be announced in due course.
Tom McNamee, Infrastructure Director, speaking on behalf of Network Rail and South Western Railway, said: “Over the May half-term, we have continued to modernise signalling on the Portsmouth Direct Line, replacing ageing equipment in the Havant area that is increasingly prone to failure and can cause delays for passengers.
“We’ve renewed key components on Portcreek viaduct, where ageing wheel timbers needed to be replaced to prevent further unplanned closures.
“We’re sorry for the inconvenience caused to passengers whilst we carried out these works. Network Rail and South Western Railway worked closely to plan the works and replacement services, helping passengers continue to complete their journeys while we deliver these upgrades.”
Image credit: Network Rail