Easter rail shutdown in Eastleigh as key Hampshire line closes for major works

Passengers travelling through Hampshire over the Easter weekend are being warned of major disruption as engineering work closes a key stretch of railway near Eastleigh.

From Friday 3 April to Monday 6 April, Network Rail, working alongside South Western Railway, will carry out essential maintenance on one of the busiest corridors for both passenger and freight traffic.

The line between Winchester railway station and St Denys railway station will be closed throughout the four-day period, with replacement buses operating between Winchester and Southampton Central railway station.

The route sees around 3,500 train movements each week, meaning regular maintenance is required to keep services running safely and efficiently. During the closure, engineers will focus on renewing switches and crossings, the components that allow trains to move between tracks, reducing the risk of faults on this heavily used section.

Additional work will include tamping and stoneblowing, processes that involve lifting and realigning the track while ensuring the correct amount of ballast is in place to support it.

Long-distance services will also be affected. Trains between London Waterloo and Weymouth will be diverted via Guildford and Havant, increasing journey times, while services from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour via Eastleigh will terminate at Winchester. Routes linking Salisbury and Southampton will not serve stations through Eastleigh, although trains will continue to operate between Southampton Central and Portsmouth Harbour.

A comprehensive bus replacement operation will be in place. A fast service will run hourly between Winchester and Southampton Central, calling at Southampton Airport Parkway railway station, alongside a stopping service serving Shawford, Eastleigh and Southampton Airport Parkway. Additional hourly buses will operate between Romsey and Southampton Central via Chandlers Ford, Eastleigh, Southampton Airport Parkway, Swaythling and St Denys, as well as between Winchester and Fareham via Shawford, Eastleigh, Hedge End and Botley.

Passengers are being urged to check before travelling, with planners adjusted to reflect the disruption and replacement services.

George Murrell said:

“These improvements will provide better journeys for customers and a more reliable railway for freight, heading to one of the country’s busiest and most important freight terminals in Southampton."

Image: Network Rail