Network Rail upgrades track and infrastructure at Barnham-Havant
Network Rail successfully completed a major engineering works programme between Barnham, Chichester and Havant from October 26-November 3, reopening the route on time.
Some 1.4 miles of track and conductor rail between Barnham and Bosham was renewed, including tamping, ballast replacement, wet bed removal and vegetation clearance.
Replacement of life-expired equipment took place at level crossings at Basin Road, Chichester, Stockbridge Road, Brook Lane FC and Bosham. This incorporated new barriers and LED lighting, as well as track replacement.
Platform and canopy repairs, tunnel repainting, deep cleaning, general maintenance and repainting of station furniture also took place at Barnham, Chichester, Fishbourne, Bosham, Nutbourne, Southborne, Emsworth and Warblington stations.
The line closure took place over the autumn half-term
(when passenger demand was significantly lower), with more than 250 Network Rail engineers at 16 worksites carrying out approximately 54,000 man hours’ worth of improvements. Buses replaced trains at a rate of at least four an hour, while teams worked round-the-clock on the track and stations. A further four days of planned closures at weekends during November and December will take place to reach 100% completion.
The nine-day closure was equivalent to 636 hours’ work time that would have required 13 separate weekends of closures. Closing the line meant only 399 hours were needed (including the extra weekends), improving the efficiency of work and removing the number of interruptions caused by handing back the railway line each day.
A passenger awareness campaign was run jointly with Southern, South Western Railway and Great Western Railway - including radio adverts, in person on platforms and online - to ensure passengers were prepared and ready for the blockade.