Network Rail engineers are continuing to work on the Portsmouth Direct Upgrade project.

The railway between Guildford to Petersfield will be closed from Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 February, with the closure extending from Guildford to Gomshall on Sunday 19 February only which will affect Great Western Railway (GWR) services between Guildford and Gatwick Airport.

Engineers will be renewing a key set of switches and crossings in Haslemere which will allow trains to move from one track to another. This will include 500m of plain line track and 1750m of conductor rail. This will make the line more reliable and provide greater operational flexibility.


Between Farncombe and Petersfield, the signalling system is being brought up to modern standards, with initial preparatory work starting which will eventually allow more trains to run between Woking and Portsmouth Harbour.

Mark Killick, Network Rail's Wessex route director, said: "It's really great to see work progressing so well on the Portsmouth Direct Upgrade programme. Our teams have been working hard to try and carefully plan and fit multiple pieces of work within the same railway closure which in turn will save time and taxpayers money.

"I'd like to thank passengers again for their patience while we carry out these upgrades and bring the signalling system up to modern standards. We hope this will be a long-term benefit and cause less disruption in the future."

Engineers will also be working around the clock with contractors Balfour Beatty to demolish the existing Silo Road footbridge which was constructed in the 1930s and replace it with a new steel footbridge using a rail mounted crane.

The concrete used in the old footbridge contained high level of salts and the new, steel one will be more durable, with a life expectancy of 120 years which will be safer for local residents to use for years to come.