Engineers will be working on the line for 14 days in September, meaning passengers will need to take buses instead.
Burrows Lane Crossing in Surrey will be getting upgrades (Image: Network Rail)
Brit holidaymakers are facing two weeks of travel chaos as a major rail route to one of the UK’s busiest airports is closing for engineering works.
There will be a two-week suspension of trains between Guildford and Gatwick Airport due to upgrades on the crucial line.
Network Rail engineers will be operating between Guildford and Reigate for 14 days in September, meaning passengers will need to take buses instead.
From Sunday, September 14 until Saturday, September 27, teams will be installing and commissioning 16 sets of signals, on the line from Shalford to Gomshall.
This should result in fewer issues on the line and an increase in the number of trains running between Guildford and Gatwick Airport in the future.
While the line is closed, engineers will also upgrade four level crossings – Chilworth, Tangley, Brook and Burrows Lane. However, this will also entail road closures.
Brook and Burrows Lane level crossings will be equipped with radars to scan the crossing before trains approach, lowering the barriers only once all vehicles are clear.
Conversely, Chilworth and Tangley level crossings will be fitted with CCTV systems, which will be used by the signaller to safely operate the barriers. All four crossings will have new signalling installed and will provide feedback to Guildford Area Signalling Centre.
During this period, the level crossings need to close. Brooks, Burrows Lane and Chilworth level crossings will be shut from 00:01 on Sunday, September 14 to 06:00 Sunday, September 28.
The Tangley level crossing is set for closure from 23:00 on Saturday, September 13 to 06:00 Monday, September 15. From September 15, the crossing will operate under traffic management during the day, with complete road closures at night (22:00 – 06:00), until 21:59 Thursday, September 25.
Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, commented: “We are advising passengers who use the North Downs Line between Guildford, Reigate and Gatwick Airport to please note the dates of this upcoming closure.
“Upgrading the signalling is critical to ensuring we’re providing a safe and reliable railway and will also increase capacity and allow for additional services to run in future, allowing more passengers across Surrey to connect with Gatwick Airport.
“We know that there is never a good time to close the railway or level crossings and recognise this may be disruptive to rail passengers, motorists and pedestrians alike.
“We’d like to apologise in advance and thank anyone effected for their patience and understanding while we complete these important upgrades.”
During the works, services from Guildford to Gatwick Airport will be substituted with bus replacement services from Sunday 14 to Saturday 27 September.
GWR Station Manager for the North Downs Line Andy Gallaugher stated: “We would like to thank customers in advance for their patience while Network Rail carry out this vital work; but please do check before you travel, especially if you are a regular to the line.
“As well as helping to ensure the line is more reliable for all who use it, this investment in the railway also continues on the path towards achieving our long-held aspiration to provide additional services between Reading and Gatwick Airport.”
