New Malden to Twickenham Renewals
We’re making upgrades to the railway between New Malden and Twickenham to increase the resilience of the railway
Project timeline
We will be renewing the railway between New Malden and Twickenham from Saturday 14 and Tuesday 17 February 2026.
What work is taking place?
We will be renewing all 58 of the wheel timbers on Kingston Railway Bridge, as well as refurbishing the track that runs over them.
What is a wheeltimber?
A wheel timber is a long wooden beam that the tracks sit on top of when they go over a bridge, as opposed to the bed of rocks and stones on normal ground.
We will be replacing the old wheel timbers with new synthetic wheel timbers which are more durable than the old ones, lasting a further 30 years. They also use less wood, reducing the need for tree felling.
We will also be renewing the level crossing on Percy Road in Hampton.
How will this work affect me?
Due to the nature of our work, some noise and light disturbance is expected, but we will do everything we can to keep disruption to a minimum. We will be sending letters to the communities affected by our work nearer the start date so they are aware of what we are doing.
During the line closure, buses will replace some South Western Railway services between New Malden and Twickenham. Trains to and from Shepperton will divert via Twickenham into and out of Waterloo.
Saturday 14 February
- Buses will replace trains between New Malden and Shepperton (via Kingston) and New Malden and Twickenham (via Kingston).
- Train services between London Waterloo and Shepperton will not run.
- Train services between London Waterloo and London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Kingston will be diverted after New Malden. These services will finish their journeys at Hampton Court.
Sunday 15 February
- Buses will replace trains between New Malden and Shepperton (via Kingston), and between New Malden and Twickenham (via Kingston).
- Revised train services will operate from London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Kingston. These services will be diverted after New Malden and will finish their journeys at Hampton Court.
- Some train services will also be revised between London Waterloo and Windsor & Eton Riverside.
- In the afternoon and evening, train services from London Waterloo to Kingston via Hounslow will finish their journeys at Hounslow.
Monday 16 and Tuesday 17 February
- Buses will replace trains between New Malden and Twickenham via Kingston.
- Train services between London Waterloo and Shepperton will be revised. These services will be diverted between Clapham Junction and Fulwell, via Richmond.
- Train services between London Waterloo and London Waterloo via Wimbledon and Kingston will be diverted after New Malden. These services will finish their journeys at Hampton Court.
Why is the work needed?
We are renewing the wheel timbers under the track because many of the current wheel timbers are old and no longer fit for purpose. By renewing the wheel timbers with lighter, more weather resistant blocks, we are creating a better more sustainable railway, as the new blocks last 30 years longer than the current blocks. The better durability means we expend less CO2 maintaining them throughout their 50 year lives.
Our renewals to the line will help avoid faults causing delays, improving the reliability of the line.
I have a question about the project – how can I get in touch?
If you have any questions, please call our dedicated 24-hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 or visit our contact us page.