RAIL commuters are facing delays to train services today due to the strong winds of Storm Imogen.
South West Trains has issued a statement advising passengers that trains will be running at a reduced speed as a safety precaution and some journey times may be extended by up to 30 minutes.
The winds are expected to be particularly strong between 11am and 3pm, affecting services on the Southampton to Weymouth route and also the Portsmouth to London via Haslemere and Guildford route.
Trains between London Waterloo and Weymouth until 12.35pm which leave London Waterloo at XX.05 will terminate at Dorchester South. A connecting replacement bus service will run between Dorchester and Weymouth, calling at Upwey.
Trains which leave London Waterloo at XX.35 will run to Weymouth, and will call additionally at Upwey.
Between 11.20am and 16.03pm trains which leave Weymoiuth at XX.20 will start from Dorchester South. A replacement bus service will run from Weymouth to Dorchester South, calling at Upwey, for local journeys, however if you are going beyond Dorchester towards Bournemouth and Waterloo you should take direct trains which leave Weymouth at XX.03 instead.
Trains which leave Weymouth at XX.03 will call additionally at Upwey.
South West Trains said: “We strongly advise you to check before you travel. You can visit our Live Train Information page or follow us on Twitter at @SW_Trains with the hashtag #stormImogen.”
Great Western Railway services are also being affected by the gales. Train services running across the whole Great Western Railway network may be delayed by up to 25 minutes or revised, with disruption is expected until 5.45pm.
Great Western Railway said: “Severe weather conditions have been forecast to affect Devon and Cornwall together with parts of Somerset & South Wales and also areas along the Bristol Channel. As a result Network Rail will be imposing speed restrictions on train services in those areas for much of the day.
“Customers intending to travel to or from these areas are advised to allow additional time for their journey.
“Please note that the actual effect on train services will vary from route to route. Elsewhere any disruption will also be dependant upon the severity of the weather and its course remaining as forecast.
“Due to speed restrictions imposed across the network these are the following estimated delays to train services:
- Between Bristol Temple Meads and Taunton from 11:00hrs – 16:00hrs trains may be delayed by approximately 20 minutes.
- Between Swindon and Patchway from 11:00hrs – 16:00hrs trains may be delayed by approximately 10 minutes.
- Between Cardiff Central and Swansea from 05:00hrs – 17:00hrs trains may be delayed by approximately 20 minutes.
- Between Tiverton Parkway and Penzance from 07:00hrs – 16:00hrs trains may be delayed by approximately 25 minutes.
- Between Brighton and Havant from 11:00hrs – 16:00hrs trains may be delayed by approximately 5 minutes.
- Between Southampton Central to Portsmouth Harbour 11:00hrs – 15:00hrs may be delayed by approximately 5 minutes.”
Updates will be posted throughout the day.
