Plan my journey

This includes the permanent withdrawal of services to Bristol on Saturdays.

Engineering works will further affect journeys on some weekends – for more information on this visit: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey/planned-improvements/engineering-work-weekly-summary

The underlying cause of these issues is a shortage of available drivers, due to the extensive disruption Covid restrictions have caused to our new driver training programme over the past year. The delay to newly trained drivers passing out of our Salisbury depot has been further compounded by problems securing replacement buses and taxis. By taking this action, we aim to provide certainty for customers and reduce the number of late notice cancellations.

We're sorry for the inconvenience this will cause our customers.

A summary of these changes is below:
- Salisbury to London Waterloo stopping services will terminate at Basingstoke – customers will need to change at Basingstoke for onward services to Woking, Clapham Junction and Waterloo

- London Waterloo to Salisbury services will start at Basingstoke. Customers travelling from Waterloo, Clapham Junction and Woking will need to catch an earlier service and change at Basingstoke

- SWR services between Salisbury and Bristol will not run. Customers will need to use connecting GWR services via a change at Salisbury. If you have an Advance ticket, you will be able to travel on GWR services on this route. If you can, try to travel close to your original booked time.

- Customers to / from Warminster and Westbury may be able to use the Salisbury – Yeovil via Westbury services which will continue to run.

- SWR services to Yeovil Pen Mill / Yeovil Junction via Westbury will run as normal.

- SWR services between London Waterloo and Exeter (via Salisbury) will run as normal.

From Monday 4 January - Island Line temporarily closed

What's going on
There is no train service for any stations on Island Line from Monday 4 January until Monday 1 November, as long as a final round of train safety tests is successfully completed. The train service is being temporarily replaced by a regular bus service.

Why is there no service? 
As part of a £26m upgrade of Island Line, there is a work programme to transform services and deliver new trains for the residents and visitors to the Isle of Wight.

Part of this programme includes the construction of a new passing loop at Brading which requires the entire line to be closed from Monday 4 January 2021. Once complete, these improvements will allow us to deliver a new regular 30-minute train service.

We are also "evening-out" some sections of track to improve the quality of the ride as well as making changes to some platforms to deliver step-free access to the new Class 484 trains. Improvements at stations will include new Wi-Fi and ticket vending machines at Shanklin, Sandown and Ryde St John's Road.

How is my journey affected – bus timetable
A half hourly rail replacement bus service will operate in both directions from Thursday 29 April 2021 and additional buses will be provided for school services.

You can check the bus timings on our website https://www.southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey or download a copy of the timetable here.

Not all buses can take all mobility scooters. Please call our Assisted Travel number, available 24 hours a day, for further assistance so that we can ensure your safe travel with us. More information on the assistance we offer is available at: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/travelling-with-us/assisted-travel

Tel: 0800 52 82 100

Text Relay: 18001 0800 52 82 100

Further Information

Full details on the improvements being made to Island Line can be found here: https://www.southwesternrailway.com/other/news-and-media/news/2021/april/train-issues-delay-island-line-reopening