SOUTH Western Railway (SWR) has issued a service plan for the remainder of this week and weekend following a major landslip on the train line.

The landslip happened on Sunday, January 15 in the area of Hook in Hampshire and has significantly disrupted services between Weymouth and London Waterloo.

The large landslip left a 44-metre stretch of track on the main line from London to Basingstoke hanging in mid-air and one other track damaged.

The disruption has continued throughout the week with a significant number of reduced services as National Rail UK urged rail users not to use the rote if possible.

They said: "Passengers are advised against all but essential travel on services which would usually pass through the area.

"This includes services between London and Basingstoke, Bournemouth, Southampton, Weymouth, Salisbury, and Exeter."

Track and signalling changes will take place this weekend to provide a short-term solution that aims to increase the capacity of the line between Basingstoke and Woking while the permanent restoration of the embankment is set to take several weeks.

The work on Saturday and Sunday will mean that no trains will operate between Woking and Basingstoke all weekend. SWR services from Exeter, Weymouth and Portsmouth Harbour (via Eastleigh) will continue to terminate at Basingstoke.

SWR is seeking to secure Rail Replacement Buses between Basingstoke and Woking but is asking customers to only travel if absolutely necessary through the area this weekend, as bus capacity is likely to be limited.

When complete, the works at Hook will mean that a number of direct services will be reinstated on the line.

The works are planned to be completed in time for the first services on Monday (January, 23) morning but due to the complexity involved in the repair customers are urged to check the latest information before starting their journey. 

A reduced service will still be in place for several weeks to allow for a full repair of the embankment.

Mark Killick, Wessex Route Director at Network Rail, said: "I’d like to say how sorry I am for the disruption our customers are facing.

"We’re working flat out to fix the railway as quickly and safely as possible, and this weekend’s work will deliver big improvement in the number of trains that are able to run until the full repairs are completed.

"Thank you in advance to customers for their patience and to the people who live nearby while we carry out the repairs, they’ve been very understanding and supportive.”