Emergency rail line closure due to landslip

Network Rail said the line between Guildford and Effingham Junction would close on 21 December

A rail line in Surrey will be closed so emergency work to stabilise an embankment can take place.

Network Rail said the line between Guildford and Effingham Junction would close on 21 December and would not reopen until 27 December for passenger trains.

A spokesperson said remote sensors at the embankment had recently detected ground movement and that while a limited number of trains could run at a reduced speed, repairs needed to be undertaken for trains to safely travel at normal speed.

During the closure, to stabilise and strengthen the embankment, 50 sheet piles - 8m (26.2ft) long sheets of metal - and a 30m (98.4ft) section of soil nails (steel rods), helping to underpin the railway will be installed.

Network Rail said safety of passengers and colleagues would "always be our number one priority"

Tom McNamee, Network Rail's Wessex route infrastructure director, said: "I'd like to apologise to any passengers whose journeys will be impacted while we complete these emergency repairs.

"The safety of our passengers and colleagues will always be our number one priority.

"I recognise some of this work may be noisy and disruptive to any local residents living nearby, whom I would like to apologise to in advance."

SWR said journey planners would be updated 24 hours in advance

South Western Railway (SWR) services between London Waterloo and Guildford, via Cobham & Stoke D'Abernon, and via Epsom, will be affected.

SWR is expected to operate one service per hour to Effingham Junction via Cobham & Stoke D'Abernon, and one service per hour to Effingham Junction via Epsom.

Other train services to Guildford via Effingham Junction will be diverted via Woking.

Rail replacement bus services will operate between Effingham Junction and Guildford, calling at Clandon, Horsley and London Road (Guildford).

Journey planners will be updated 24 hours in advance, so passengers are advised to check before travelling.

A SWR spokesperson said: "We are very sorry for the disruption that these emergency engineering works will cause, however, it is important that Network Rail engineers are able to access the embankment and carry out repair works as soon as possible."