Network Rail has announced the successful completion of the first phase of a major rail engineering project in Portsmouth over the Christmas and New Year period.

The £100 million project will see a major overhaul of signalling and track equipment along a 50 mile section of the network, from Portsmouth to Petersfield and Bedhampton to Portchester. Some of the track and signalling equipment which is being replaced dates back to the 1960s. The project will also see a state-of-the-art signalling control centre being opened in Havant. During the first phase of work the replacement of signals was completed at Havant and Fratton. In all 24 signals have been piled and erected, 60km of cable laid, new level crossings installed at Warblington and Cosham and one crossing control replaced at Bedhampton. At Havant six units of switches and crossings were renewed as well as 400yards of track. At Fratton two switches and crossing units were renewed. Switches and crossings are the arrangement of rails which enable a train to diverge from one line to another.

The Portsmouth project is part of Network Rail’s £1.5bn nationwide investment in signalling over the next three years. The investment in signalling in the Portsmouth area means more reliable, smoother and quieter journeys are in sight for rail passengers.

Network Rail’s Route Director David Pape said: “The Portsmouth work is an enormous project which brings us one step closer to delivering better, smoother and more reliable journeys for passengers. This massive investment will enhance the performance of the railway and it is a tribute to the hard work and dedication of all parties involved that the first part of such a huge project was completed on schedule. I must also pay tribute to the many dedicated workers who gave up their Christmas break to deliver improvements for railway users on this busy main line. We appreciate that passengers continue to face disruption to their journeys but we hope that people understand how important it is to secure the future of this busy route.”

The final phase of works will be carried out in January and early February:
· Stage 2 – from Tuesday 2 January to Wednesday 31 January the lines between Portsmouth Harbour and Fratton will be closed. On Sunday 14 January, Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 January only the closure will extend to between Portsmouth Harbour and Petersfield, Fareham and Chichester. Replacement buses will be in operation
· Stage 3 – from Thursday 1 February to Sunday 4 February the lines from Portsmouth Harbour to Petersfield, Fareham and Chichester will be closed. On Sunday 4 February the closure will extend to between Portsmouth Harbour and Haselmere, Swanwick and Eastleigh. Replacement buses will be in operation