Going South from Epsom for Xmas? Check your trains
Epsom residents are being urged to check before travelling as South Western Railway (SWR) services to Guildford face significant disruption due to emergency engineering works. The works will take place from Saturday 21 December to Tuesday 24 December, affecting trains running via Cobham & Stoke D’Abernon and Epsom.
The disruption comes as Network Rail works to stabilise an embankment near Clandon following the detection of ground movement. Trains in the area have been operating at reduced speeds, and urgent repairs are required to ensure passenger safety.
Impact on Services
During the works, limited train services will operate between London Waterloo and Effingham Junction via both Cobham & Stoke D’Abernon and Epsom. To help passengers, replacement buses will run on the following routes:
- Surbiton to Guildford, every 30 to 60 minutes depending on the day.
- Effingham Junction to Guildford, every 30 minutes, with some extending to Epsom.
Passengers travelling between Epsom and Guildford will be served by either a train or replacement bus. Normal services are expected to resume from Friday 27 December, but journey planners will be updated daily, and travellers are advised to check before setting out.
A Safety Priority
Explaining the need for the emergency works, Tom McNamee, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Infrastructure Director, said:
“We detected ground movement at an embankment in the Clandon area, which has made it necessary to operate trains at slower speeds. Stabilising the embankment is critical to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. While we recognise this will be disruptive, it’s essential to carry out these repairs to prevent further movement and restore full services as quickly as possible.”
Passenger Advice
SWR is apologising to passengers for the inconvenience. Steve Tyler, Planning and Performance Director at SWR, added:
“We are sorry for the disruption and are working hard to provide as many train services as possible during the works. Buses will operate to ensure passengers can still reach their destinations, and we encourage everyone to check journey planners before travelling. We appreciate your patience as these essential repairs are completed.”
Key Information
- Trains will not stop at Horsley, Clandon, or London Road Guildford stations during the works. These will instead be served by replacement buses.
- No SWR services will operate on Christmas Day or Boxing Day, and an amended timetable will be in place from Friday 27 December.
For the latest updates, visit southwesternrailway.com or use journey planners to confirm service availability. Passengers are encouraged to allow extra time for their journeys during this period.
