Customers in the Guildford area advised to check before travelling due to emergency engineering work

SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) services between London Waterloo and Guildford via Cobham & Stoke D’Abernon, and via Epsom, will be disrupted from Saturday 21 to Tuesday 24 December.

The line between Effingham Junction and Guildford will close following the final services on Friday 20 December, in order to allow Network Rail engineers to complete emergency engineering work.

Ground movement has been detected at an embankment in the Clandon area, which is forcing trains to travel at slower speeds. Strengthening work and repairs must be carried out before trains can safely travel at normal speeds between Clandon and London Road Guildford.

From Saturday 21 to Tuesday 24 December, SWR will operate limited train services between London Waterloo and Effingham Junction, via Cobham & Stoke D’Abernon, and via Epsom. Some suburban services between London Waterloo and Guildford will also be diverted via Woking.

These services will be subject to alterations and cancellations, so customers are advised to check before travelling. Journey planners will be updated 24 hours in advance.

In addition to altered train services, the following bus services will operate:

Saturday 21:

• Surbiton-Guildford every 30 minutes
• Effingham Junction-Guildford every 30 minutes, with one bus every 60 minutes extending to Epsom

Sunday 22:

• Surbiton-Guildford every 60 minutes
• Effingham Junction-Guildford every 30 minutes, with one bus every 60 minutes extending to Epsom

Monday 23:

• Surbiton-Guildford every 30 minutes
• Effingham Junction-Guildford every 30 minutes, with one bus every 60 minutes extending to Epsom

Tuesday 24:

• Surbiton-Guildford every 60 minutes
• Effingham Junction-Guildford every 30 minutes, with one bus every 60 minutes extending to Epsom

This will ensure that all stations between Epsom and Guildford will be served by either train or bus services.

Train services through the Clandon area are expected to resume on Friday 27 December, however, customers are advised to check the SWR website for updates.

Steve Tyler, South Western Railway’s Planning and Performance Director, said:

“We are very sorry for the disruption as a result of the emergency engineering work in the Clandon area. We are working hard to provide as many train services as possible, which will start and finish their journeys at Effingham Junction, however, we do expect alterations and cancellations.

“To ensure customers are able to travel, we will provide a bus service serving all stations between Surbiton and Guildford, and between Epsom and Guildford. Journey planners will be updated 24 hours in advance and customers are advised to check their journeys carefully before travelling.

“Once again we’re very sorry for the disruption and would like to thank customers for their continued patience.”

Tom McNamee, Network Rail’s Wessex route infrastructure director, said:

“I’d like to apologise to any passengers whose journeys will be impacted while we complete these emergency repairs.

“We’re acutely aware of the impact of closing this stretch of railway, however, the safety of our passengers and colleagues will always be our number one priority and its imperative we allow our engineers to get in there and stabilise this embankment to prevent any further movement and reopen the line as quickly as possible.

“I recognise some of this work – particularly the piling – may be noisy and disruptive to any local residents living nearby, whom I would like to apologise to in advance and thank them for their patience and understanding.

“We will ensure we provide regular updates on our progress and our engineers will be working tirelessly to complete this work and reopen the railway as quickly and safely as possible.”