Clewer & Dedworth

Windsor and Eton Riverside to Staines train line will close for a week in March

Between Saturday 22 and Friday 28 March, the line between Staines and Windsor will be closed and train services will not run, while Network Rail carry out vital track improvements.

During this time, Network Rail’s team of engineers will lay over 700m of new track on the 174-year-old Black Potts Railway Bridge which crosses the River Thames, just a mile away from Windsor Castle. Engineers will also be carrying out work at May’s Level Crossing in Datchet, widening the pedestrian walkway on one side of the crossing.

While the line between Staines and Windsor will be closed all week, over the weekend of 22-23 March, a range of other vital work will be completed in the wider area around Staines-upon-Thames. This includes:

  • Track upgrades and maintenance on the line between Staines and Egham and from Staines to Ascot and Woking.
  • Structural repairs to the bridge over the River Wey near Addlestone
  • Installing new sleepers in the Feltham area

Changes to train services

During this closure, buses will replace some South Western Railway (SWR) services between through the Staines area. Details below:

  • Saturday 22 March – Staines to Windsor, Hounslow to Virginia Water
  • Sunday 23 March – Staines to Windsor, Hounslow to Ascot and Woking
  • Monday 24 March to Friday 28 March – Staines to Windsor

Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Director, said: “We know that closing this large stretch of railway to the south west of London will be disruptive and we would like to apologise to passengers for the inconvenience this work will cause.

“We started work on this project in 2023 to renew the railway in the Windsor area and this work will allow passengers to enjoy smoother and more reliable journeys for years to come.”

A South Western Railway spokesperson said: “We are advising customers to plan ahead, with rail replacement buses and altered train services coming up in March.

“Buses will replace trains between Hounslow and Windsor & Eton Riverside on Saturday 22 and Sunday 23, then between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside from Monday 24 to Friday 28.

“Customers should also be aware that train services in the surrounding area will be different to normal timetables on the weekend of March 22 and 23.

“We’re sorry for the disruption that this will cause and are very grateful for our customers’ patience.”

Contact information

Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41