Rail services to be suspended for 11 days

Services between New Milton and Branksome will be halted to enable engineers to carry out essential maintenance to two viaducts on the Hampshire-Dorset border.

The bridges, which carry the high-speed line over the rivers Avon and Stour, are near Christchurch station.

Proposed improvements will enable the current speed limit between Hinton Admiral and Christchurch to be lifted, allowing trains to travel at a top speed of 60mph.

But the work will result in services being suspended between the evening of December 24 and January 4 next year. Trains will be replaced by buses.

A drop-in session will be held next month to enable Network Rail staff to explain the proposals and the likely impact on commuters.

Project manager Michele Swan said: “Speed restrictions were introduced as both these viaducts are around 130 years old and there were concerns that trains travelling a full speed could damage the track support system.

“This essential maintenance work will not only allow us to lift that restriction but will also extend the lifespan of these historic structures.”

The 12-month project is scheduled to start next month, but the bulk of the work will not be carried out until late December.

Ms Swan added: “We would like to reassure people that we are doing everything we can to minimise the disruption that this project will cause.

“We appreciate there will still be an impact on residents and would encourage anyone who is concerned to come to the drop-in session to find out more.”

A Network Rail spokesman said every effort would be made to minimise noise caused by the work.

“Noise mitigation methods will include acoustic screens and limiting noisy operations to day-time working only where possible. Furthermore, those on site will be briefed on working responsibly in the local community,” he said.

The drop-in session will be held at the Druitt Hall in Christchurch High Street on September 7 between 3.30pm and 8pm.