Rail passengers in Chichester are being advised to plan ahead for significant travel disruption during the October half-term, as Network Rail begins a major £250 million resignalling and track renewal project.
The engineering works are scheduled to take place from Saturday 24 October to Sunday 1 November 2026. The timing coincides with the West Sussex school half-term, which runs from 26 to 30 October.
The project, delivered by Network Rail Wessex and South Western Railway (SWR), aims to replace ageing signalling equipment dating back to the 1970s and 80s. In the Havant area, 61 new axle counters will be installed, while 183 metres of track will be renewed at Fishbourne as part of wider West Coastway improvements.
Impact on Rail Services
The most significant disruption for local commuters will occur between Monday 26 October and Friday 30 October. During this core work period, Southern Railway services arriving from the east will terminate at Chichester.
Passengers intending to travel further west toward Portsmouth Harbour or Southampton Central will be required to transfer to replacement bus services. These buses will operate between Chichester and Portsmouth Harbour, and between Chichester and Southampton Central.
Buses will also replace trains across a wider area throughout the nine-day closure, including routes serving Havant, Portsmouth, Southampton, Guildford, and Petersfield.
Station Car Park and Road Closures
The works will also affect local road users and those who drive to the station. To accommodate the replacement bus operations and engineering equipment, several closures have been confirmed:
- Chichester Station: The car park will be partially closed from Thursday 22 October to Friday 30 October to serve as a boarding point for replacement buses.
- Bosham Station: The car park will be fully closed from Friday 23 October to Saturday 31 October for use as an engineering site compound.
- Level Crossings: Several crossings will be closed to all traffic from Monday 26 October to Friday 30 October, including those at New Fishbourne, Blackboy Lane, Havant, and Bedhampton.
Network Rail has stated that the upgrades are essential for improving reliability on the line. Passengers are encouraged to check their journey details closer to the time of travel via the Network Rail Media Centre or through their respective train operators, Southern and SWR.
Travel times are expected to be significantly extended for those using the replacement bus network, and passengers should allow extra time for their journeys during the half-term break.