Check before travelling and allow extra time to complete journeys between Guildford and Petersfield from Saturday

Friday 10th February 2023
Class-444_Train_Platform_ 5
  • Major engineering work set to close the line between Guildford and Petersfield from Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 February
  • Buses will replace trains throughout and will take up to 30 minutes longer than usual due to roadworks in the Haslemere area
  • Customers should check before travelling and allow extra time to complete their journeys

SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) is advising customers to check before travelling, and allow extra time to complete their journeys, with the line between Guildford and Petersfield set to close from Saturday 11 to Sunday 19 February.

The closure will see Network Rail engineers continue a major resignalling project on the Portsmouth Direct Line, which links Woking and Portsmouth Harbour via Guildford.

With the line blocked, the fastest way to travel directly between London and Portsmouth will be to travel on an SWR service via Basingstoke.

Customers travelling to stations between Guildford and Petersfield will need to change at these stations for a rail replacement bus service – and should allow extra time to do so.

Essential SGN roadworks in the Haslemere area will mean buses will have to be diverted, meaning journeys will take up to 30 minutes longer than normal.

Buses from Guildford and Petersfield have been retimed to allow for better onward connections, however, the longer journeys caused by the roadworks mean customers may need to travel on an earlier bus to reach their destination at the right time.

Stuart Meek, Chief Operating Officer for South Western Railway, said:

“It’s really important that customers plan their journeys carefully and allow extra time, as buses are replacing trains between Guildford and Petersfield for nine days.

“These buses are also having to navigate major roadworks in the Haslemere area, which unfortunately means journey times will be longer than normal.

"Making decisions to close parts of the network is really difficult because we know how inconvenient it can be for customers, but giving Network Rail this access can make the railway more reliable and help avoid day-to-day disruption."

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.”

The closure between Guildford and Petersfield is one of three across the SWR network between Saturday 11 and Sunday 19, with Network Rail carrying out resignalling work between Reading and Bracknell, and between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside, at the same time.

Major engineering work closures such as these are planned many months, or even years, in advance and are often scheduled for during half term periods to minimise the disruption to customers.

Customers are advised to visit southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey for more information on engineering work during February.

Additional Information:

Rail replacement bus services are as follows:

Saturday 11 and Saturday 18 February 2023

  • 2 buses per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Haslemere
  • 1 bus per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Farncombe, Godalming and Haslemere
  • 1 bus per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Godalming and Haslemere
  • 1 bus per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Farncombe, Godalming, Milford, Witley, Haslemere, Liphook and Liss

Sunday 12 and Sunday 19 February 2023

  • 2 buses per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Haslemere
  • 1 bus per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Godalming and Haslemere
  • 1 bus per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Farncombe, Godalming, Milford, Witley, Haslemere, Liphook and Liss

Monday 13 to Friday 17 February 2023

  • 2 buses per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Haslemere
  • 1 bus per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Farncombe, Godalming, Haslemere, Liphook and Liss
  • 1 bus per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Godalming and Haslemere
  • 1 bus per hour Guildford to Petersfield – calling at Farncombe, Godalming, Milford and Witley