South Western Railway (SWR) is advising customers to plan ahead due to engineering work which will close lines across the next two weekends.
Maintenance works in the Wimbledon area will see services affected across the network on January 18, 19, 25 and 26.
Services between London Waterloo and Chessington South, Dorking, Hampton Court, London Waterloo via Kingston, and Woking, will not run.
Rail replacement bus services will operate between Clapham Junction and Chessington South via Wimbledon, Worcester Park via Wimbledon, Surbiton via Wimbledon, Surbiton via Kingston, Hampton Court via Surbiton, Effingham Junction via Surbiton and Weybridge via Surbiton.
Services between London Waterloo and Alton and Basingstoke will be revised, starting and ending their journeys at Woking.
Longer distance services between London Waterloo and Exeter St Davids will be revised and diverted, taking about 30 minutes longer than usual.
The maintenance works will see Network Rail engineers renew about 800 metres of track between Wimbledon and Earlsfield.
They will also replace points – moveable sections of track that allow trains to move from one line to another – and install 100 meters of conductor rail, which powers trains.
Works will improve the reliability of the track in the area, reducing the number of faults caused by rail and wheel wear.
Peter Williams, SWR’s customer and commercial director, said: “Customers should plan ahead if they intend to travel on these weekends in January, as engineers carry out vital maintenance at one of the busiest parts of our network.
“We are very sorry for the disruption and are very grateful for our customers’ patience.”
More closures will affect the Wimbledon area on February 2 and 9.
Details are available at southwesternrailway.com/planned-improvements and more information will follow. Customers can plan ahead at southwesternrailway.com/plan-my-journey.
(Picture: SWR)