Major Rail Delays Expected Due to Emergency Works in Hampshire and Surrey

Emergency engineering work will lead to major disruption for passengers on the line between Alton and Farnham tomorrow. It is understood that keeping the line running could put passenger safety at risk. An unstable embankment is blamed and it is not clear when it will reopen. Buses will replace trains on the key commuter route. Network Rail is advising passengers to check before they travel as its engineers have begun emergency repair work to a railway embankment between Farnham in Surrey and Alton in Hampshire. Network Rail’s orange army has been monitoring the stability of this embankment and has taken the decision to temporarily close the line following the weather forecast of heavy rain tonight, which could further affect the embankment’s stability. The temporary closure will allow engineers to investigate the source of the issues and begin the process of fixing the problem. By temporarily closing the line it will ensure the safety of passengers and minimise the risk of any unplanned closures in the future. Unfortunately due to the early stage of the investigation work, it is not possible to predict at this time when the line will reopen. Network Rail apologises for the inconvenience caused, but the safety of passengers must always be its highest priority. During the temporary closure, South West Trains is running a replacement bus service from Farnham to Alton, calling at Bentley. Passengers are advised to check before they travel through National Rail Enquiries or South West Trains.