Rail travellers warned of nine-day disruption

Rail travellers in Hampshire are being warned of nine days of disruption from Saturday due to engineering work.

Buses will replace trains between Southampton Central and Fareham up to and including Easter Sunday.

On some days, trains to Bournemouth, Eastleigh, Lymington, Romsey, Salisbury and Weymouth will also be cancelled or rescheduled.

Network Rail said during the closure it would install a new sheet pile wall to protect the track between Fareham and Swanwick from landslips.

Engineers will work around the clock to install the metal sheets beside 300m of track near Oak Road in Fareham, the rail authority said.

Rock strips will also be installed to stabilise the railway cutting, it added.

The nine-day closure will also enable work on the footbridge at Hamble station and the River Itchen bridge between Bitterne and St Denys, Network Rail said.

Elsewhere, weekend closures due to engineering work will affect trains between Southampton Central and Bournemouth.

On Easter Sunday, no trains will call at Southampton Central.

Mark Goodall from Network Rail said: "We understand that shutting down such a large stretch of railway along the south coast will cause disruptions.

"Traditionally, the school holidays see fewer people using the railway.

"During this time, we encourage passengers to plan ahead and check before you travel."

Network Rail said there had been three previous landslips at the Oak Road site.

It said 40m of track was secured through wire mesh walls and other emergency works, at a cost of £870,000.

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