Hook landslip: South Western Rail confirms bus replacements and delays to services this weekend

Train passengers may see delays in Hampshire this weekend as engineers try to repair the track at Hook.
By Sophie Lewis
Published 19th Jan 2023, 16:32 BST
Updated 19th Jan 2023, 16:32 BST
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Network Rail will undertake emergency work on January 21 and 22, 2023 following the landslip at the beginning of the week.

As a result of the repairs, there will be disruptions to train services that run between Basingstoke and Woking, which will affect services from Exeter, Weymouth and Portsmouth Harbour, via Eastleigh, which will continue to terminate at Basingstoke.

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The landslip left a 44 metre stretch of track suspended in mid-air and there will be an emergency repair this coming weekend.

A 44-metre landslip which happened on the embankment to the northeast of Hook station in Hampshire on the line from London to Basingstoke. Photo credit should read: Network Rail/PA WireA 44-metre landslip which happened on the embankment to the northeast of Hook station in Hampshire on the line from London to Basingstoke. Photo credit should read: Network Rail/PA Wire
A 44-metre landslip which happened on the embankment to the northeast of Hook station in Hampshire on the line from London to Basingstoke. Photo credit should read: Network Rail/PA Wire

Claire Mann, managing director of South Western Railway, said: ‘We are very sorry for the ongoing disruption due to the landslip at Hook on Saturday, January 14, which has meant a severely reduced service on one of the country’s busiest railway lines.

‘We know how frustrating this week has been for our customers, particularly those in the Hook, Winchfield, and Fleet areas, with trains unable to stop at these stations.’

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In order to complete the work this weekend, Network Rail will postpone planned work on the line between Guildford and Portsmouth Harbour, instead redeploying the engineering teams to support the landslip recovery at Hook.

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Mark Killick, Wessex route director at Network Rail, said: ‘I’d like to say how sorry I am for the disruption our customers are facing. We’re working flat out to fix the railway as quickly and safely as possible, and this weekend’s work will deliver big improvement in the number of trains that are able to run until the full repairs are completed.’

Related topics:Train passengersEastleighNetwork RailHampshire