Rail Passengers Are Warned About Bank Holiday Engineering Works

Published on: 21 Aug, 2026
Updated on: 21 Aug, 2026

The message to passengers over the bank holiday is: Check your journey before travelling.

Engineering works will affect rail services in the Guildford and Farnham areas during the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Services between Farnham, Alton and Guildford will be replaced by buses on Saturday, August 29, to Monday August 31.

The service changes are necessary because of work being carried out by South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail Wessex (NR Wessex).

On the Sunday, buses will replace trains between Surbiton and Guildford via Cobham, with additional replacement buses operating between Leatherhead and Guildford via Effingham Junction. Engineers will be improving the railway’s resilience to flooding by performing drainage refurbishment at Effingham Junction.

Over the River Mole, between Bookham and Leatherhead, they will replace wheel timbers, large wooden blocks that carry rails over bridges, which will help keep services moving on time.

On the Alton line, teams will tamp the ballast under the tracks. The aim is to keep rails at an even level and ensure smoother and safer journeys for passengers. At Alton station, teams will carry out repairs to the canopy on platform two.

People intending to travel that weekend are advised: Plan ahead at southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey

The rail authorities say: “This programme of work has been scheduled for the August Bank Holiday weekend, when fewer customers typically travel, helping to minimise disruption while maintaining and improving the railway.”

Thomas Desmond, Operations Director for South Western Railway and Network Rail Wessex, said: “These upgrades are an important investment in the railway’s future, helping to improve reliability, reduce the likelihood of disruption and ensure that we continue to provide a safe and dependable service for our customers.

“Most of our network will remain open, but some journeys on routes serving Guildford and Alton will be affected. Customers can find out more on our website, where they can also check their journey before travelling.”