• Luke receives update from GWR following flooding
• GWR services for Portsmouth Harbour and Brighton affected
• Update on other planned improvement work also shared

Luke has contacted Great Western Rail (GWR) following the flooding over the last few weeks for an update on local railway services and repair times.

Following flooding, there has been a landslip between Salisbury and Romsey, which has rendered the track impassable to regular train services. Network Rail has confirmed that the damage to the railway embankment will take several weeks to repair and as a result Great Western Railway services for Portsmouth Harbour or Brighton must start and terminate at Salisbury. Buses will operate from Salisbury to Southampton Central, with connecting trains through to Portsmouth Harbour and Brighton.

South Western Railway is running trains between Salisbury and Basingstoke for connections to/from Southampton Central, as well as trains between Romsey and Southampton Central and will provide updates as they become available.

GWR also shared information on further planned improvement work in the Wessex and South Coast area with Luke:

• Sunday 1 March – Buses will replace trains between Weymouth and Yeovil Pen Mill due to ongoing line upgrades in Dorset
• Saturday 14 March – Sunday 29 March – Services in Somerset may affect train services between Taunton and Castle Cary due to bridge upgrades
• Saturday 28 March – Buses will replace trains between Weymouth and Dorchester West due to line upgrades in Dorset
• Sunday 29 March – Buses will replace trains between Weymouth and Yeovil Pen Mill due to line upgrades

More information can be found on the GWR website.