South Western Railway passengers on the Hounslow Loop are being made aware that buses will replace trains between Kew Bridge and Barnes between August 23 and 31 while Network Rail completes strengthening works on Barnes Bridge, over the River Thames.
The middle girders supporting smaller beams on the bridge will be removed and replaced with new girders. These do most of the heavy lifting when supporting the tracks and trains above, acting as the backbone of each span.
The wheel timbers, blocks which run under the tracks on bridges, on the line heading away from London will be replaced with new, longer-lasting and eco-friendly ones which have a lifespan of 50 years.
Peter Williams, customer and commercial director at South Western Railway, said: “These upgrades will help keep the railway reliable and resilient for many years to come, and we are grateful to our customers for their patience while they are carried out.”
Last summer, engineers renewed and strengthened the pins that join the steelwork together on the bridge, allowing Network Rail to lift a speed restriction, meaning trains could run faster.
