THERE will be major changes to timings for trains operating between Hampshire and London Waterloo this Saturday, Sunday and Monday (August 7-9) with some journeys taking between 30 and 50 minutes longer.

Passengers traveling on trains between London Waterloo and South West London, Surrey, Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire are advised to check before they travel and plan ahead as Network Rail prepares for three-days of improvement works in Surrey to improve reliability and deliver better journeys.

The delays will be as follows:

  • Services from London Waterloo to Basingstoke will take around 25 minutes longer, while services from Basingstoke to London Waterloo will terminate at Woking.
  • Services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will start and terminate at Basingstoke.
  • Services from Alton to London Waterloo will take around 50 minutes longer, while services from London Waterloo to Alton will start at Woking.
  • Services between London Waterloo and Poole and Weymouth will take around 40 minutes longer.
  • Services from London Waterloo to Portsmouth Harbour will take around 30 minutes longer.

A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “Engineers will improve reliability and increase train speeds in the area by renewing sets of points – which allow trains to move between tracks – and replacing track.

“The scale of the work means that there will be major changes to train times, with some journeys taking between 30 and 50 minutes longer.”

The three-day project will allow engineers to remove a number of long-standing speed restrictions that cause local train services between London Waterloo and Woking and long-distance services between London Waterloo, Exeter, Portsmouth and Weymouth, to travel at reduced speeds through the area.

Mark Killick, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: “We really appreciate the patience of our passengers during this upgrade to a critical section of the route for both local and long-distance services. The improvements will enable us to remove long-standing speed restrictions and deliver faster and more reliable journeys across a large section of the network.

“I know how inconvenient it is to close the line for three days including a Monday, but having looked at passenger numbers, delivering the work in this way will be less disruptive than spreading it over several separate weekends.

“We’re taking advantage of the closure to deliver as much work as we can and I would encourage passengers to check before travelling and to plan ahead as some journeys will take longer.”

Alan Penlington, SWR’s customer experience director, said: “The improvements to this important section of track near Weybridge will improve reliability and punctuality for years to come. Removing these speed restrictions will mean trains can run at line speed again which is great news for our customers.

“With the line closed for three days, one of which being a working Monday, I know there will be some inconvenience for anyone traveling whilst trains aren’t running and I’d like to thank all our customers for their patience whilst these much needed improvements take place.”

When the points are renewed and the track’s alignment is corrected, trains will be able to pass through the area at the full speed of 90 miles per hour, keeping them on time and improving performance.