Network Rail takes advantage of lockdown to replace track between Portsmouth and London

Network Rail took advantage of the low number of passengers during lockdown to upgrade the Fareham to Eastleigh railway line.

The track replacement was focused on a section near the Tapnage tunnel between Fareham and Botley. The line forms part of the London to Portsmouth train route.

Engineers replaced the track which had ‘reached the end of its lifespan’ as well as carrying out vital maintenance work to other sections of the line.

With the service having reopened on May 30, the company hope it can provide a smoother and more reliable journey for passengers.

Mark Killick, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: ‘We’ve now completed the rail upgrade on the Eastleigh to Fareham line which will provide a more reliable railway and better journeys for passengers.

‘I’d like to thank those unable to work from home for their patience during the works and also praise our railway heroes who adopted new practices and worked tirelessly to hand back the railway on time.’

Construction work, which started on May 23, involved the use of a new track construction train which laid down the sleepers at a rate of up to 10 per minute. Engineers worked for 10,000 hours to lay the ballast to support the sleepers and ensure the track was stable.

A message from the Editor

Thank you for reading this story on portsmouth.co.uk. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to portsmouth.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit our Subscription page now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.