Engineering work will be taking place on the tracks near Salisbury station on Saturday, 18 December in order to finalise repairs to the damaged track following the collision between an SWR train and a GWR train outside Fisherton Tunnel in October.
The track through the tunnel needed replacing after the collision, after which it ‘settled’ over the following weeks when trains were running over it. As is normal following track replacement work, Network Rail engineers follow up a few weeks later to check everything is still correct with the track alignment.
There will be replacement bus services running between Salisbury and Andover/Romsey/Southampton until the early afternoon.
Claire Mann, Managing Director, South Western Railway, said:We’re sorry for the short-notice changes to services through Salisbury on the Saturday before Christmas, as Network Rail carry out essential engineering works. Replacement buses will be in place between Salisbury and Andover and our customers will be able to use tickets on Great Western Railway and CrossCountry services, via any reasonable route.
Network Rail apologised that the line closure had to take place so close before Christmas.
