SERVICES across South Western Railway’s suburban network will be replaced by buses due to engineering work in the Wimbledon area over the next two weekends.
South Western Railway (SWR) is advising customers to plan ahead of the next two weekends in January due to maintenance work in the Wimbledon area, which will affect services across their network.
Peter Williams, South Western Railway’s customer and commercial director, said: “Customers should plan ahead if they intend to travel on these weekends in January, as engineers carry out vital maintenance at one of the busiest parts of our network.
“There will be a large number of service changes, with rail replacement buses operating on our suburban routes, and with long-distance services revised and diverted.
“Diverted services will take around 30 minutes longer than usual, so customers should allow extra time when travelling.
“We are very sorry for the disruption and are very grateful for our customers’ patience.”
Many services in South West London and Surrey will be replaced by buses as Network Rail engineers renew approximately 800 metres of track, ballast, and sleepers between Wimbledon and Earlsfield.
They will also replace points (moveable sections of track that allow trains to move from one line to another) and install 100 meters of conductor rail, which powers trains.
The work will improve the reliability of the track in the area, says SWR, reducing the number of faults caused by rail and wheel wear, and providing customers with a smoother ride as the layout of the track is improved.
Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex Route director, said: “There’s never a good time to close the railway, and I’m sorry we are impacting passengers in the Wimbledon area over consecutive weekends.
“We’ve worked hard to find the least disruptive window to deliver these essential engineering works.
“However, completing the upgrades back-to-back is the most efficient and cost-effective option for the taxpayer.
“If you’re planning to travel during our works, please plan ahead and check your journey.”
Service changes will apply on Saturdays January 18 and 25, and Sundays January 19 and 26.
Services between London Waterloo and Chessington South, Dorking, Hampton Court, London Waterloo via Kingston, and Woking (stopping) will not run during the works.
Rail replacement bus services will operate between Clapham Junction and:
Chessington South via Wimbledon
Worcester Park via Wimbledon
Surbiton via Kingston
Surbiton via Wimbledon (Saturdays only)
Surbiton (non-stop)
Hampton Court via Surbiton
Effingham Junction via Surbiton
Weybridge via Surbiton
Twickenham via Kingston (Sunday 26 January only)
Buses will also operate between Addlestone and Weybridge, while Berrylands station will be closed.
Services between London Waterloo and Alton and Basingstoke will be revised, starting and ending their journeys at Woking.
Longer distance services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids, Portsmouth Harbour and Weymouth will be revised and diverted, taking approximately 30 minutes longer than usual.
And engineering work will also affect services in the Ash area on Saturday 19, Saturday 25 and Sunday 26 January, with revised services and buses running between Aldershot and Guildford.
Customers can plan ahead at southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey.
Further closures will affect the Wimbledon area on Sundays February 2 and 9.
