Wokingham level crossing closures to cause Reading to Bracknell disruption

Temporary closures at a Wokingham level crossing were due to signalling upgrades

Buses will replace trains between Reading and Bracknell for nine days as Network Rail carries out signalling, CCTV and track works.

Four level crossings - two at Wokingham station and two on Easthampstead Road, known as Star Lane - will also shut.

The closures will run from Friday at 22:00 GMT until 19 February at 04:00.

Tom McNamee, of Network Rail, said disruption was possible but described the work was "critical".

CCTV monitors will be added to a manually controlled barrier at Wokingham station during the work.

The crossing at Wokingham station will close from 22:00 on Friday until 04:00 on 19 February, while the crossing at Easthampstead Road will not shut until 22:00 on 2 February until 04:00 on 19 February.

The existing signal equipment for the railway dates back to 1974.

The work being carried out is at the "final stages of a re-signalling programme" which will see "new equipment and a renewed track installed".

Once completed, Network Rail said the "modern digitised signalling system will help improve train performance, increase future capacity, result in fewer delays and enhance the safety of level crossings".

A state-of-the-art signalling system being installed between 2021 and 2024 is at its final stage

The work will affect services on South Western Railway (SWR) and Great Western Railway (GWR) between Reading, Bracknell and Guildford, extending to Ascot and Aldershot on some weekends.

A spokesperson for SWR said: "We would like to remind customers to check before travelling ahead of these vital improvements."

Mr McNamee, said: "These works are critical to us being able to deliver a safe, modern and reliable service for customers.

"There's never a good time to close the railway, and we know that level crossing closures in Wokingham will be disruptive to local road users.

"However, delivering the bulk of these works during the half term break, when fewer people travel by rail and the schools are closed, helps us minimise the disruption."

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