A RANGE of engineering works this bank holiday weekend will mean buses replace some train services across routes that travel through Basingstoke and Andover.

Network Rail is reminding people to plan ahead and check before travelling.

On Sunday, May 28, the railway line between Woking and Winchester and Basingstoke to Andover will be closed to enable Network Rail engineers to complete vital track work that will help reduce delays for customers.

Buses will replace South Western Railway (SWR) trains between:

  • Woking and Basingstoke
  • Woking and Winchester via Basingstoke
  • Woking and Andover via Basingstoke

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Mark Killick, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said: “I’d like to thank customers for their patience while we carry out these improvements.

“I recognise there is never a good time to close the railway, but we have chosen to carry out this work over the bank holiday weekend as we know there are generally fewer customers travelling than on a weekday on this busy and important stretch of line.

“I’d like to remind customers to check before they travel as some bus replacement services will be in operation.”

Work will involve removing what the industry calls wet beds which are sections of track where the stones and sleepers are so wet, they cause uneven and bumpy train rides for customers.

Engineers will also be completing routine maintenance to improve the overall reliability of the railway and testing new equipment that has been installed over the last month.

This is part of a wider eight-week programme of work to bring more smooth and reliable journeys on the South West main line in the Basingstoke area.

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Stuart Meek, South Western Railway’s chief operating officer, said: "Customers should please check their whole journey before they travel this bank holiday weekend, as essential engineering works mean buses will replace trains in parts of London, Surrey, Berkshire, and Hampshire on the Sunday and Monday.

"We are sorry to customers for the extra time that this will add to their journeys, but the upgrades to track and signalling will modernise equipment and improve the reliability of services going forward."