Network Rail will press ahead with the next stage of signalling and track improvements on the Portsmouth Direct Line later this month, with buses replacing trains between Havant, Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour from Saturday 28 March to Thursday 2 April.

This phase represents a further £120 million investment in the multi‑year programme to modernise the route. When the full programme completes in 2028, control of signalling will move from the Havant Area Signalling Centre to the Basingstoke Rail Operating Centre, improving communication between signallers and enabling faster incident response to deliver a more reliable railway.

It follows the first phase completed in 2025, which invested £129 million to modernise signalling between Farncombe and Petersfield, improving the reliability and safety of services on the London–Portsmouth corridor.

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During the line closure, Network Rail will upgrade the signalling system and strengthen key infrastructure around Havant and Portsmouth.

Across six days, engineers will: repair cable troughing between Farlington and Cosham to better protect signalling equipment; carry out structural repairs to Portcreek Viaduct linking the mainland to Portsea Island; renew 48 wheel timbers through Platform 2 at Portsmouth & Southsea; replace a further 14 wheel timbers outside Portsmouth Harbour; and complete tamping to improve track alignment through the Portsmouth area. In total, around 1,378 hours of work will be undertaken.

Train services will be amended throughout the works. South Western Railway services to and from Portsmouth Harbour will start or terminate at Havant or Fareham. Southern services to and from Portsmouth Harbour will start or terminate at Havant, with services for Portsmouth & Southsea diverted to Bognor Regis. Southern trains between Brighton and Southampton will run as normal. Great Western Railway services to and from Portsmouth Harbour will start or terminate at Fareham.

Replacement buses will operate five times per hour between Havant and Portsmouth Harbour, calling at Bedhampton, Hilsea, Fratton and Portsmouth & Southsea, and twice per hour between Fareham and Portsmouth Harbour, calling at Portchester, Cosham, Hilsea, Fratton and Portsmouth & Southsea.

Further closures are scheduled around the late May bank holiday, with engineers due to return again in the autumn. More details will be confirmed nearer the time.