Extensive Railway Engineering Work Takes Place At Guildford Over The Festive Season

Published on: 29 Dec, 2019
Updated on: 29 Dec, 2019

One of the most extensive railway maintenance operations at Guildford in recent times has been taking place during the Christmas break.

Work taking place to repair and strengthen the Farnham Road bridge at Guildford railway station. Bridge pictures by Ray Slack, first published on the Facebook page Guildford Past & Present.

Work to strengthen the Farnham Road bridge to the south of the station and improving track drainage to the north, has reduced train services to a minimum.

Engineering work to improve to drainage across the railway lines to the north of Guildford railway station by Yorkie’s Bridge. These pictures by David Rose.

The on-going strike by South West Trains staff has also had an effect on train services. There has, however, been a service to and from Guildford via Cobham and Stoke D’Abernon.

Lines of buses at Guildford station have replaced trains between both Woking and Haslemere on the London Waterloo to Portsmouth main line, and also between Guildford and Farnham.

Trains between Reading and Gatwick Airport, that pass through Guildford, have been running between Reading and Ash only, with buses taking over.

Page from National Rail Enquiries’ website detailing reduced train services through Guildford during the 2019 Christmas period.

The maintenance work on the bridge, repairing and strengthening the brick and steelwork, and repainting, started on Wednesday, December 25. Network Rail, that is undertaking the work, state that it will be reopened on Tuesday, December 31.

The Farnham Road bridge – open only to pedestrians while the work is carried out.

The bridge has been closed to vehicles, although pedestrians have been able to cross.

The work to improve drainage across the tracks close to Yorkie’s Bridge, began on Wednesday, December 25 and is expected to be completed by Monday, December 30.

On the left a train departs Guildford via Cobham towards London Waterloo. On the right a waiting diesel loco with ballast wagons as part of the drainage work.

Network Rail has posted details of the disruption and plans for alternative travel arrangements on its website. It also states that “…throughout these works Guildford station car park will have a reduced capacity. Passengers are advised to allow extra time to find alternative parking if the car park is full, with Farnham Road car park and Bedford Road car park suggested as alternatives”.

During this year’s festive season Network Rail – that owns, operates and develops the UK railway’s infrastructure – has engaged 20,000 staff on 386 engineering projects throughout the network, including at Euston station and at Oxford, Crewe, Birmingham, York, Leeds, in Kent and Sussex and also in Scotland.

Below are further images of the extensive engineering works being carried out at Guildford.

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