Guildford is set for railway improvement works this Easter, taking another step towards achieving more frequent weekday services on the North Downs line to Gatwick Airport.
From Friday 2 to Monday 5 April, replacement buses will run between North Camp and Gatwick Airport with a shuttle train service continuing to run between Reading and Ash. Buses will be timed to connect with trains at North Camp.
GWR Regional Station Manager for the line Steven Hawker thanked passengers in advance for their patience and reminded them of the changes ahead that these improvement works are helping to bring.
He said:
“Last year we provided a third hourly service at off-peak times on weekdays on the route between Reading and Gatwick Airport, as well as throughout the day on Saturdays. This work over the Easter weekend will help us to achieve our long-held ambition to provide three trains an hour every day, throughout the week.”
With the Government’s present advice restricting travel, GWR is operating a reduced timetable. Customers should follow Government guidelines, people should continue to work from home where they can and minimise the number of journeys they make where possible, avoiding travel at the busiest times. Find out more at gwr.com/safety.
Mark Killick, Network Rail’s Wessex route director, said:
“We have a large programme of work planned for the Guildford area this Easter, so we are encouraging passengers to check before they travel.
“Our improvements will provide more reliable track and signalling at one of the busiest parts of our route, while the enhancements will help realise ambitions to provide more services on the North Downs Line in the future.
“I’d like to thank both the passengers and also those living close to the railway for their patience during this work.”
The train operator has been providing rail services throughout the pandemic and has worked to ensure these are as safe as possible. This includes increased cleaning regimes and the use of a virucidal spray; extra staff at key stations to offer help and guidance; and processes in place to help customers maintain a safe distance where possible, such as restricting the number of reservations available.
Customers looking for further travel information can visit GWR.com/NorthDowns
Photo credit: GWR
