One of Portsmouth’s most prominent Victorian railway structures is to get some vital engineering attention in January 2021.
Built in 1876, the Landport Viaduct supports two platforms at Portsmouth and Southsea station on the line to the harbour. It needs a week’s worth of strengthening, without trains running over it. In addition, a separate project will see new track laid and a bridge rebuilt near Cosham.
This means that, between Friday 1 and Sunday 3 January, plus Sunday 17 January, the line from Fareham to Portsmouth Harbour will be closed for the Cosham project
For one week, Between Monday 18 and Sunday 24 January, the line from Portsmouth & Southsea to Portsmouth Harbour will close, with the closure extended Cosham and Bedhampton on Sunday 24, for Landport Viaduct strengthening.
During the work, trains will start and finish their journeys earlier, some will call at additional stations or be diverted, while others will be replaced by buses.
Mark Killick, Network Rail Wessex route director, said: “We know any planned changes to train services can be disruptive to passengers, but both projects will provide a more reliable railway in Portsmouth. By doing this work all together, and especially the seven-day closure, we will save many more weekends of potential disruption.
“We’re proud to be the custodians of some very old Victorian structures, and one of the challenges we face is running a frequent and busy train service over the top of them, while keeping them in top condition.”
Landport viaduct is supported by 17 spans with seven being strengthened during January’s line closure. The remaining 10 will be strengthened at a later date.