Press release -
Emergency work to stabilise a cutting near Fareham in southeast Hampshire completed – but buses will again replace trains between Eastleigh and Fareham next week
Network Rail have issued the following press release about emergency engineering work in Fareham last week, and planned work next week (12-16 February):
Network Rail has thanked customers travelling between Eastleigh and Fareham for their patience while emergency works to stabilise a cutting took place.
Over the last week, Network Rail’s engineers have worked around the clock to carry out urgent landslip prevention repairs at Fareham, which because of its nature couldn’t be delayed.
The work involved the installation of 268 soil steel nails, each 25 metres long, which have been drilled into the slope and reinforced with concrete to support the cutting and protect the railway.
Matt Pocock, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “After the recent severe weather, our teams spotted land movement which meant we had to act quickly to prevent a much worse and disruptive landslip.
“I’m really sorry that this emergency closure had to take place so close to works already planned for the February half term next week, but the safety of our customers and railway colleagues has been our priority.
“I’d like to thank customers and local residents for their continued patience and understanding while our teams complete the work needed stabilise the slope as quickly and safely as possible so we can get customers moving again.”
Engineers will return to Fareham for the second time from Monday 12 to Friday 16 February to carry out major track renewal works, which means that buses will replace trains.
The lines between Southampton and Portsmouth Harbour and Eastleigh and Havant will be closed during that time, while we complete a rail renewal at Fareham and upgrade bits of rail over four platforms at Portsmouth Harbour.
Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s customer and commercial director said: “We’re very grateful for our customers’ continued patience. While last week’s closure between Eastleigh and Fareham came at short notice, it was vital that landslip prevention work was carried out.
“Next week’s closure for planned improvements will once again mean that rail replacement bus services will run and train services will be amended, so customers should check before travelling.”
Jenny Saunders, Govia Thameslink Railway's customer services director, commented: "I'm sorry this work will severely affect our Southern customers on the route west of Havant and in the Portsmouth & Southsea to Portsmouth Harbour areas.
"We'll do everything possible to keep people moving through rail replacement buses but journeys will take much longer and I'd urge you to plan ahead at nationalrail.co.uk and allow plenty of extra time."
Travel information
South Western Railway:
- London Waterloo to Portsmouth via Eastleigh services will terminate at Eastleigh.
- Southampton Central to Portsmouth stopping services will not run.
- Buses will run once per hour between Eastleigh and Portsmouth Harbour, calling at Hedge End, Botley, Fareham, Portchester, Cosham, Hilsea, Fratton, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour.
- Buses will run once per hour between Southampton Central and Havant, calling at Swanwick, Fareham, Portchester, Cosham and Havant.
- Buses will run once per hour between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour calling at St Denys, Bitterne, Woolston, Sholing, Netley, Hamble, Bursledon, Swanwick, Fareham, Portchester, Cosham, Hilsea, Fratton, Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour.
- Buses will run every 15 minutes between Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour.
More information: www.southwesternrailway.com
Great Western Railway:
- Buses replace trains between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.
More information: www.gwr.com and at https://www.gwr.com/travel-information/travel-updates/planned-engineering/wessex
Southern Railway:
- Buses replace trains between Southampton Central and Havant, and between Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour.
More information: www.southernrailway.com
Notes to Editors
In 2022 Network Rail engineers spent £2.28m on a project to prevent landslips in the Fareham area closing the line for 9 days. During that closure, engineers worked on tackling the steepness of part of the railway cutting near Fareham Tunnel, where the line is cut deeply into the hillside.
Engineers excavated 5,000 tonnes of earth from the steepest side of the cutting before building an 80-metre-long retaining wall.
The recently detected earth movement, which was stabilised over the last week, was discovered at a different part of the cutting. The works completed in 2022 have not been affected by the recent poor weather conditions, and no earth movements have been detected in that area.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Paul Prentice
Communications Manager
07354 529345
paul.prentice@networkrail.co.uk
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For more information, contact the press office on 0203 750 2031.
Govia Thameslink Railway
Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) operates Thameslink, Great Northern, Southern and Gatwick Express services as follows:
- Thameslink – cross-London services between Bedford/Peterborough/Cambridge and Brighton/Horsham/East Grinstead, and between Luton/St Albans and Sutton/Wimbledon/Rainham; plus services between London and Sevenoaks
- Great Northern – services between London and Welwyn, Hertford, Peterborough, Cambridge and King’s Lynn
- Southern – services between London and the Sussex coast (Brighton, Worthing, Eastbourne, Bognor Regis, Hastings) and parts of Surrey, Kent and Hampshire (Ashford International, Southampton, Portsmouth)
- Gatwick Express – fast, non-stop direct services between Gatwick Airport and London Victoria
www.southernrailway.com, www.thameslinkrailway.com, www.gatwickexpress.com, www.greatnorthernrail.com
