Network Rail warns of vital engineering works between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier from Sunday 22nd December

RAIL passengers are being urged to plan ahead before travelling over the Christmas period as vital engineering works are carried out across the network, including on two New Forest lines.

Network Rail says it is undertaking a key programme of work in order to provide better, more reliable services for passengers from Sunday 15th December until Sunday 5th January 2025. This includes key upgrade work between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier which will result in changes to services.

Between Sunday 22nd December and Sunday 5th January, buses will replace trains between the two stations. Normal service will resume on Monday 6th January.

A Network Rail spokesperson said: “Following the successful re-railing done on the line in late October, we will be strengthening the bridge across the Lymington River between Lymington Town and Pier stations.

“We will be refurbishing and strengthening the bridge, and making repairs to heavily corroded critical steel elements of Lymington Viaduct, which will be carried out from pontoons and scaffolding.

“We will also be renewing the wheel timbers across the viaduct.”

Work will also be carried out at Brookwood junction, affecting services between Basingstoke and Woking. During this time there will be no direct trains between Exeter/Salisbury and London Waterloo. Services between Waterloo and Southampton/Weymouth will also be diverted, taking 45 minutes longer. No trains will be running between Guildford and Farnham.

Work to upgrade the Sherrington Viaduct between Salisbury and Trowbridge will also see buses replace trains.

Network Rail’s Wessex route director, Mark Goodall, said: “Passengers are advised to plan ahead this Christmas as we carry out these essential improvement works. Our teams will be working round the clock over the festive period to upgrade the railway for our passengers so they can benefit from smoother and more reliable journeys.

“We do a significant amount of works over the Christmas period as we can keep disruption to a minimum, but we are sorry to passengers who are affected by these works and thank them for their patience.”

Customer and commercial director for South Western Railway, Peter Williams, added: “With some services on our network amended, diverted and replaced by buses, we recommend checking journey planners now. We’re sorry for the disruption this will cause and are grateful to our customers for their patience.”