On the 25th October, Network Rail will begin the final stage of the Portsmouth Direct signalling upgrade between Farncombe and Petersfield.

This means that buses will replace trains as the work will result in a nine-day closure between Guildford and Havant.

The work will allow for more efficient train management once signalling control is transferred to the Basingstoke Railway Operating Centre.

They will be testing 90 new signals and 17 new equipment buildings to ensure everything works ahead of this.

There will also be some level crossings affected by closures, including Liss Common, Kings Fernsden, Princes Bridge, Milford, Petersfield, and Liss.

Full details of these are available on Network Rail’s website.

Passengers are advised to check before they travel online.

“We appreciate that there is never a good time to close the railway and we’re sorry for the disruption this will cause. However, these closures are essential to complete the vital upgrade of the Portsmouth Direct line. By carrying out the majority of work during the autumn half-term – when fewer people travel – we can minimise disruption while delivering long-term benefits.

“Drivers in the area will need to plan ahead and will need to take alternative routes when the roads around level crossings are closed.”

Speaking on behalf of Network Rail and South Western Railway, Mark Goodall, Wessex Route Director