Closure of M27 and delays on Weymouth-Waterloo and Bristol rail lines

The Weymouth-Waterloo line continues to be blocked at Eastleigh as work continues to clear the line and repair track after a freight train derailed. The line is not expected to open until Monday at the earliest - but disruption could go on for much longer.

Meanwhile, a section of the Weymouth to Bristol railway is closed today and tomorrow for engineering works.

(See below for details on rail disruption)

On the roads, if you're heading towards Southampton, London or the Midlands via the A34 at Winchester, expect delays and “severe” congestion as part of the M27 in Hampshire is closed.

Highway bosses are urging motorists to plan their journey and allow extra time. The closure, between J3 and J4 came into effect last night and lasts until 5am on Monday, February 3.

The closure is to allow the demolition of the old Romsey Road Bridge.

Andrew Winson, project manager at Highways England, said: “The reasons why we do these closures on a weekend is because the demand for travel is lower. But we are not going to be shutting any of the roads that are going to be used by the railway replacement buses so those operations can carry on and we know that Network Rail are working as hard as they can in order to get that line reopened.”

Some motorists will face a 55-mile diversion route while others will be diverted through North Baddesley and Chilworth.

Here is all you need to know about the closure

Diversions

Eastbound:

The eastbound diversion entails a number of different routes, depending on direction and the type of vehicle.

-Light vehicles on the M27 from the A31 heading to London/M3 will be directed off at M27 junction 2 to use the A36 and the A3090 through Romsey towards the M3 junction 11 just south of Winchester.

-To avoid low bridges on the A3090, HGVs on the M27 from the A31 heading for M3/London will be diverted off the above route at Romsey onto the A27. These HGVs will then route through North Baddesley to Chilworth Roundabout, where they can use the A33 to join the M3 northbound.

-Traffic of any type on the M27 from the A31 and heading towards M27 east (e.g. from Bournemouth to Portsmouth) will be diverted off at M27 junction 3 up the M271 and A3057 northbound. Before reaching Romsey, traffic will join the A27 eastbound, heading through North Baddesley and Chilworth Roundabout to re-join the M27 at junction 5 (Stoneham).

Westbound:

All vehicles heading west on the M27 from Portsmouth to Bournemouth will be diverted off at junction 4, up the M3 and the A34. At Bullington Cross, traffic should join the A303, which will be carrying London to Bournemouth traffic diverted off at M3 junction 8. Diverted traffic should continue west to Amesbury, then follow the A345 into Salisbury. Traffic should then join the A36 through Salisbury, rejoining the M27 at junction 2 (Ower).

The diversions in place are the same implemented in September 2018 when the motorway was closed for a weekend and traffic in Southampton and the surrounding area was brought to a standstill.

Freight train derailment

Meanwhile, commuters could face disruption for “much longer” than Monday after a train derailment at Eastleigh.

Network Rail has announced that passengers should prepare themselves for delays, cancellations and diverted journeys until Monday while temporary tracks are built at the station, but a more permanent solution to fix the tracks could take “weeks or months”.

This comes after six 52 tonne freight train wagons derailed from the tracks on Tuesday morning.

All of the wagons have now been lifted back onto the track using large mechanical jacks, but the tracks has been left with “very significant damage” and in order to get trains running as soon as possible, Network Rail is creating temporary tracks.

A spokesman said: “We are dealing with a complex situation involving the derailment of six 52 tonne wagons that has taken much longer than was initially expected. Following the derailment there is extensive damage to the track and our engineers are working around the clock to get the railway back open as quickly and as safely as possible.

“To do this we are installing temporary track and will make alterations to the signalling and power supply. But longer term repairs will take much longer - weeks or months - and this will be accessed once the temporary tracks are in place.

“We think we know what caused the derailment but it is still under investigation and we cannot say at this time.”

After the wagons were reconnected to the track on Thursday January 30, workers began constructing the temporary tracks and four large construction vehicles were at the scene.

While disruption was originally expected to last until 10.30pm on January 28, the most up to date information now is that most services should resume on Monday.

For more details on rail services see southwesternrailway.com

Bristol line closure

On the Bristol line, buses will replace trains between Weymouth and Yeovil Pen Mill today and between Weymouth and Castle Cary tomorrow.

This is the latest in a series of closures on the line due to a route upgrade by Network Rail.

Tunnels and bridges will be strengthened and sections of track refurbished on the picturesque ‘Heart of Wessex’ line which goes via Dorchester West, Maiden Newton and Yeovil Pen Mill.

The main area of work being planned is at Yetminster where a 129-year-old bridge crossing the River Wriggle will be renewed.

Today, work is taking place at Poundbury tunnel and Bradford Peverell plus there is preparatory work at Yetminster.

Tomorrow, the line will be closed for structures work and steelwork repairs at Hummer Road overline bridge near Sherborne, as well as work across the weekend to prepare for the bridge replacement work at Yetminster.

Check before travelling via gwr.com