Rail services between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside resumed on Saturday 29 March, following a successful week-long closure to carry out vital upgrade works on the line.
During the closure, Network Rail engineers completed a comprehensive programme of improvements designed to deliver smoother, safer, and more reliable journeys for passengers. A major focus was the replacement of over 700 metres of track, including a key section over the 174-year-old Black Potts Railway Bridge, which spans the River Thames just one mile from Windsor Castle.
The new rail was welded together to reduce track joints, which will help improve ride quality and reduce maintenance needs. Given the tight curves in this section of the line, engineers also installed lateral sleeper supports to strengthen the track and increase its durability under stress.
In addition to the works on the Black Potts Bridge, teams completed a range of upgrades and maintenance projects across the wider Staines-upon-Thames area, including:
- Track upgrades between Staines and Egham, and from Staines to Ascot and Woking
- Structural repairs to the bridge over the River Wey near Addlestone
- New sleeper installation in the Feltham area
- Pedestrian walkway widening at Mays Level Crossing near Datchet station
- Vegetation clearance along the Windsor line to maintain safe railway operations
Mark Goodall, Network Rail’s Wessex Route Director, said:
“I’d like to thank passengers for their patience over the last week while we carried out this essential maintenance work in the Windsor area.
This week-long closure allowed us to complete a complex re-railing job over Black Potts Railway Bridge alongside other important tasks, all of which will ensure the continued safe and reliable running of services for years to come.”
Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director for South Western Railway, added:
“We’re very pleased to see the line between Staines and Windsor & Eton Riverside reopen following this essential work. We’re grateful for our customers’ patience and look forward to welcoming them back on board.”
The work forms part of Network Rail’s ongoing programme of investment in the Southern region to maintain and enhance key infrastructure for passengers and freight.
