Chichester rail passengers to face major disruption during October half-term
Rail passengers travelling through Chichester are being urged to plan ahead this October half-term, with extensive engineering work set to bring changes to services across the area.
The work, taking place from Saturday, October 24 to Sunday, November 1, is part of a major programme of improvements aimed at making the railway more reliable.
For passengers in Chichester, the most significant impact will be on services west of the city, with Southern trains terminating at Chichester from Monday, October 26 to Friday, October 30.
Replacement buses will operate between Chichester and Portsmouth Harbour, as well as between Chichester and Southampton Central.
The disruption is linked to a number of major projects being carried out across the wider railway network.
In the Havant area, engineers will install 61 new axle counters as part of the ongoing Havant resignalling programme. The equipment helps signallers monitor the location of trains and is designed to reduce signalling failures.
Further work will take place between Liphook and Petersfield, including new rails and upgrades to signalling and cabling systems. The work follows the completion of a signalling upgrade between Farncombe and Petersfield in 2025.
There will also be work much closer to Chichester, with 183 metres of track due to be renewed in the Fishbourne area. Rails, sleepers and ballast will be replaced as part of the project, with the aim of providing smoother and more comfortable journeys on Southern's West Coastway route.
The projects form part of a £250 million investment by South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex to replace ageing track and signalling infrastructure and improve reliability.
What Chichester passengers need to know:
The biggest changes for Chichester-area passengers will come during the working week.
From Monday 26 to Friday, October 30, Southern services will terminate at Chichester rather than continuing towards Portsmouth. Replacement buses will operate from Chichester to Portsmouth Harbour, while another replacement service will run from Chichester towards Southampton Central.
There will be further changes on Saturday, October 31, when SWR services between London Waterloo and Portsmouth will terminate at Haslemere.
Two fast buses per hour will run between Haslemere, Petersfield and Havant, with an hourly stopping service calling at Liphook, Liss, Petersfield and Rowlands Castle.
On Sunday, November 1, SWR services between Waterloo and Portsmouth Harbour will once again terminate at Guildford, with replacement buses operating through the Petersfield and Havant areas.
Passengers travelling from Chichester to destinations such as Portsmouth, Southampton or beyond should therefore allow extra time and check their individual journey before setting off.
George Murrell, Renewals Director for South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex, said:“Reliable trains need reliable tracks and signals, which is why we’re investing in renewing and upgrading signalling systems on this key route. This is an important step as we continue to improve our railway and deliver the reliable service our customers deserve.
“We’ve tried to minimise the impact by completing this work over the half-term period when, typically, fewer people travel. If you are travelling over the half-term period, please make sure you plan ahead and allow plenty of time to complete your journey.“
Jenny Saunders, Customer Service Director for Southern, said: “Vital resignalling work designed to give our passengers better, more reliable services, regrettably means anyone travelling west of Chichester this October half term will have to use a rail replacement bus.
“I know that for some people this will mean longer journeys and I’m sorry for the impact this will have. Please check your options and plan ahead now using our online journey planner at southernrailway.com.”