Passengers face rail line closure

Most of the engineering work will take place in the Basingstoke area

Rail passengers in the South are facing major disruption over the bank holiday weekend while part of the main line to London is closed for repairs.

Major engineering work is being carried out along the London Waterloo to Weymouth line, which is closed between Woking and Basingstoke.

A replacement bus service is being laid on by South West Trains between Woking, Winchester and Basingstoke.

The repairs were due to begin on Saturday and will last until Tuesday.

Services between London Waterloo and Portsmouth, via Guildford, are not affected.

Most of the work is taking place in the Basingstoke area, including strengthening and refurbishment of the Battledown flyover and maintenance work around Farnborough and Brookwood stations.

Robin Gisby, Network Rail's director of operations and customer service, said they had chosen the Spring Bank Holiday to carry out the repairs because fewer people would be using the trains then.

People travelling to Homelands music festival, near Winchester, on Saturday, are advised to travel by train to Petersfield where a shuttle bus service will be provided to the festival site.