There will be no steam trains operating to or from Alton station until the end of July 2019 due to work being carried out as part of a large highway improvement scheme. We will still be running trains from Alresford to Medstead.
The Watercress Line will remain open with temporary service changes to its railway services between Alresford and Medstead from January to end of July 2019, while a new, multi-million pound infrastructure project is underway.
Watch the last passenger train travelling over Whitedown Lane Bridge on 1.1.2019
The project, led by Homes England, consists of essential works to replace Whitedown Lane Bridge with a new, wider girder bridge to serve the Watercress Line and enable two important housing sites to be brought forward for development, delivering 500 new homes in Alton.
The Watercress Line will be unable to run trains into Alton while the replacement is taking place as the site is handed over to contractors, and will instead offer a free bus service for passengers from Alton Station.
Connecting Watercress Line bus services to and from Alton Station will be available on weekends, Bank Holidays and certain special events*.
The bus timetable for Saturdays is as follows:
Alton dep 11.20 12.20
Four Marks Tesco arr 11.40 12.40
Four Marks Co-op dep 15.15 16.15
Alton arr 15.35 16.35
The bus timetable for Sunday and Bank Holidays is as
follows:
Alton dep 11.00 12.00
Four Marks Tesco arr 11.20 12.20
Four Marks Co-op dep 15.15 16.15
Alton arr 15.35 16.35
This is a limited bus service so a seat can not be guaranteed.
Services from Alresford to Medstead will remain unaffected; click here for the timetable
* There will be no Watercress Line connecting Bus service operating between Alton and Four Marks during the Watercress Festival (19th May). See Stagecoach services for alternatives.
The delivery of the infrastructure and progression of the two development sites under a joint planning consent is the result of many years of collaboration between local landowners and the Watercress Line.
For more information about the project, visit buttsbridgeroadworks.co.uk