SWR services from Crewkerne to London
South Western Railway (SWR) has set services on the London line for the rest of this week and weekend. This follows a major landslip in the Hook area, which we reported on earlier. The landslip has severely reduced the number of trains that can safely run between Basingstoke and Woking. The landslip has left a 44-metre stretch of track suspended in mid-air. As a result a severely restricted service is running between Basingstoke and Woking. There are no through trains to London Waterloo from Somerset stations, indeed from Exeter St Davids.
Network Rail will undertake emergency work on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 January to improve the track. This will provide more capacity for services from Monday 23 January.
As a result on Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 January, buses will replace trains between Basingstoke and Woking. This will effect anyone travelling to London Waterloo from Crewkerne, Yeovil Junction and Templecombe. SWR is advising customers to only travel if absolutely necessary between Basingstoke and Woking.
The permanent restoration of the embankment is likely to take a number of weeks. Network Rail will undertake track and signalling changes this weekend to provide a short-term solution. That will increase the capacity of the line between Basingstoke and Woking. However services will be less frequent than usual until repairs are completed. You are advised to check train times and the latest timetable before you travel.