There isn’t a dedicated thread on this subject yet so I may as well create one for the benefit of commuters who rely on the SWML to get to school, college, work and university. The line between Bournemouth and Southampton Central will close for engineering work from Monday 1st November until Friday 5th November, in a “first for work taking place on weekdays to reflect post-Covid travel habits”*. A more detailed summary of what’s going on can be found on the National Rail website.
While I can understand the rationale for doing engineering work during the week if it’s quieter than weekends with the post-covid commuter decline and leisure boom, this is probably one of the worst lines to trial it on. Bournemouth - Southampton is a massive commuter flow with many passengers boarding at intermediate stations and some travelling onwards to London. Brockenhurst generates a huge amount of student traffic with the college and having seen the down platform jam-packed at kick-out time, it’s going to be a mammoth challenge getting them onto buses and coaches with about 1/6 capacity of a 5-car 444. Besides, the line isn’t likely to be any busier at the weekend now the summer season is over so why not do it then?
As somebody who will need to travel this route at least twice that week, please feel free to share any updates or concerns regarding the blockade on this thread.
*I think that was a quote from Paul Clifton on a BBC South Today report from a few weeks ago.
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Engineering work is taking place between Southampton Central and Bournemouth, closing all lines.
CrossCountry:
Buses will replace trains between Southampton Airport Parkway and Bournemouth.
South Western Railway:
Fast buses will run between Southampton Airport Parkway and Bournemouth.
Fast buses will run between Southampton Central and Bournemouth.
Buses will run between Brockenhurst and Bournemouth calling at all stations.
A revised service will run between Bournemouth, Poole and Weymouth.
Check before you travel:
You can plan your journey using the National Rail Enquiries Journey Planner
Although journey planners are showing correctly, your journey may be subject to alteration at short notice due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Please check before your journey.
Replacement Bus Travel Advice:
For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility and bicycle information, please use this page.
You can find the location of your bus replacement by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.
While I can understand the rationale for doing engineering work during the week if it’s quieter than weekends with the post-covid commuter decline and leisure boom, this is probably one of the worst lines to trial it on. Bournemouth - Southampton is a massive commuter flow with many passengers boarding at intermediate stations and some travelling onwards to London. Brockenhurst generates a huge amount of student traffic with the college and having seen the down platform jam-packed at kick-out time, it’s going to be a mammoth challenge getting them onto buses and coaches with about 1/6 capacity of a 5-car 444. Besides, the line isn’t likely to be any busier at the weekend now the summer season is over so why not do it then?
As somebody who will need to travel this route at least twice that week, please feel free to share any updates or concerns regarding the blockade on this thread.
*I think that was a quote from Paul Clifton on a BBC South Today report from a few weeks ago.