Emergency repairs force weekend closure of Lymington branch line

Train services on the Lymington branch line will be replaced by buses this weekend while emergency engineering work is carried out following renewed ground movement near the track.

The closure will affect services between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier on Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 January, allowing engineers to repair a minor landslip close to Battramsley. The issue was first detected over the Christmas period when movement was identified beneath the railway.

As a precaution, trains were initially restricted to just 5mph through the affected area. Following temporary stabilisation work on New Year’s Eve, services were able to resume at 20mph, with the site continuing to be closely monitored to ensure trains could run safely.

Although permanent repairs had been scheduled for the end of February, recent heavy rainfall and the impact of Storm Goretti have further altered ground conditions. As a result, Network Rail has brought the work forward and taken the decision to close the line at short notice.

Rail replacement buses will run every 30 minutes between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier on Saturday. On Sunday, buses will operate hourly. Any changes to services beyond the weekend will be confirmed once the condition of the site has been reassessed.

Passengers are being urged to check their journeys in advance and allow extra time to travel, with online journey planners due to be updated in the coming days.

Speaking on behalf of Network Rail and South Western Railway, Tom McNamee, Infrastructure Director, said:

“We’re sorry for the disruption this weekend and the short notice of this line closure. We understand that closing the Lymington branch line will be frustrating for passengers and it’s not a decision we’ve taken lightly. The safety of our passengers is paramount, and after recent heavy rainfall, we need to step in quickly to make sure trains can run safely. Our engineers will work around the clock to put in a long-term fix, rebuild the embankment and ensure the track is back in alignment. We’d like to thank passengers for bearing with us while we carry out these essential repairs. We’ll be doing everything we can to get the railway back open as soon as possible.”

Image: Network Rail