Skip to main content
26/01/2024

A fault with the signalling system between Cosham and Swanwick and an earlier safety inspection of the track at Portchester means some lines are blocked. As a result, trains may be cancelled, delayed by up to 45 minutes or revised. This is expected until 15:00.

Great Western Railway Customer Advice:

Rail replacement has been requested, we will update when confirmed.

If you require any further assistance or information please speak to a member of Train Crew or Station Staff. Alternatively please use station help points where provided.

Southern Customer Advice:

Services running to/from Southampton Central will be disrupted, due to a fault with the signalling system in the Swanwick area, and safety inspection of the track due to a potential broken rail in the Portchester area.

Southern services running to / from Southampton will be subject to the following amendments:

  • Services that usually run between Southampton Central and London Victoria will instead run between Bognor Regis and London Victoria instead (in both directions).
  • Services that usually run between Brighton and Southampton Central will instead run between Brighton and Barnham only, or Brighton and Portsmouth Harbour instead (in both directions).

Please check before you travel today and allow plenty of extra time. You may need to change trains en route in order to complete your journey.

Tickets will be accepted for no extra cost on the following alternatives:

  • South Western Railway services between Southampton, Portsmouth, Clapham Junction and London Waterloo.
  • Southern and Thameslink services via any reasonable route, including between Portsmouth & London, and Brighton & London.

You can check if your journey will be affected using a live route map here.

Can you tell me more about the incident?

An earlier fault with the signalling system meant that trains were having to be "talked past" a signal by the signaller in the Swanwick area. Network Rail technicians have attended and rectified the fault.

In addition to this, a potential broken rail in the Portchester area means that the line from Southampton towards Portsmouth and Havant is currently shut. Network Rail technicians are on site and are planning to "caution" a train through the area to inspect the line.

South Western Railway Customer Advice:

A safety inspection of the track is currently taking place at Portchester. This means that trains are unable to run on all lines towards Portsmouth Harbour.

To assist you with your journey your ticket will be accepted, at no extra cost to yourself, on the following services:

  • First bus route 3 Fareham to Portsmouth Harbour.
  • First bus route X4 Southampton Central to Portsmouth Harbour.

South Western Railway have arranged replacement buses to run on the following routes:

  • Portsmouth Harbour to Southampton Central
  • Southampton Central to Portsmouth Harbour
  • Fareham - Portchester
  • Fareham to Havant

For further information or onward travel advice please speak to a member of staff or use a station help point.

Check before you travel:

You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time Journey Planner.

For helpful advice if you need to travel on a rail replacement service, including accessibility information, please use this page.

You can find the location of your replacement bus by checking station signs or by searching for your station on our station information pages.

​​​​​​​Compensation:

You may be entitled to compensation if you experience a delay in completing your journey today. Please keep your train ticket and make a note of your journey, as both will be required to support any claim.

Affected operators
Great Western Railway, Southern, South Western Railway
Nationalrail link
Last updated: 26/01/24 - 12:51