| Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour - closed, 1.12.2025 Posted by grahame at 07:08, 1st December 2025 |     |
Cancellations to services between Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour all lines are closed.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
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What has happened?
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Axle counters, part of the signalling system, have stopped working. Axle counters tell the signalling system if a section of track has a train on it. If an axle counter stops working, trains need to stop at the affected signal so that the Driver can speak to the Signaller to confirm if the track ahead is clear.
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What are we doing about it?
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Engineers are on site and are working on a fix
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Whilst this is the case our services will not be able to run to Portsmouth Harbour. Our services will instead run as far as Portsmouth & Southsea where they will terminate.
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What are my options?
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We are sorry for the delay to your journey today. Below are the current options available to you:
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Option 1: Use the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner to check if a journey by rail is currently possible. If you are at a station please check the Live Departure Boards or speak to a member of our station team.
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Option 2: Your ticket can be used, at no extra cost, in both directions on the following local bus routes. Just show your rail ticket to the driver:
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First Bus route 1 between Portsmouth (Hard Interchange Stop F), Portsmouth (Guildhall Stop B) and Fratton (Fratton Bridge).
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First Bus route 2 between Portsmouth Harbour (Hard Interchange), Portsmouth & Southsea (Guildhall), Cosham (Interchange)
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First Bus route 3 between Fareham (Bus Station Stop B), Cosham (Health Centre), Portsmouth (Guildhall) and Portsmouth (Hard Interchange Stop E).
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First Bus route 8 between Portsmouth (Hard Interchange Stop G), Portsmouth (Guildhall) and Cosham (Health Centre).
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irst Bus route X4 between Southampton (WestQuay Stop BI), Fareham (Station) and Portsmouth (Hard Interchange Stop G).
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Option 3: Replacement transport, provided by us such as a buses, coaches or taxis, have not been requested as there are other alternatives in place to allow you to continue your journey. The time taken to resource vehicles and the journey time by road is likely to be significantly longer that it would be for you to use one of the other alternative options. We will continue to monitor the need for this as the situation develops and provide any updates here.
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Option 4: Travel at a later time. You might want to consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.
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Let us help you:
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Don't worry if you're already travelling when disruption happens, we'll get you where you need to go. If you miss the last train of the day due to cancellation or because another train was delayed, we wont leave you stranded.
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If you require help, further information or would like to provide feedback, to help us improve in the future:
Speak to our staff at the station or on the train.
Use the Customer Help Point on the platform.
Message us on X @GWRHelp, Facebook Messenger @gwruk, Instagram @gwruk or WhatsApp 07890 608043. Our team is available weekdays between 06:00 - 23:00 and on weekends between 07:00 - 23:00.
Call our Customer Support team on 03457 000 125, who are available between 06:00 and 23:00.
Call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950, who are available 24 hours a day.
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Delay Repay:
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If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can apply for Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour all lines are closed.
Train services running to and from these stations will be cancelled. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice
-
What has happened?
-
Axle counters, part of the signalling system, have stopped working. Axle counters tell the signalling system if a section of track has a train on it. If an axle counter stops working, trains need to stop at the affected signal so that the Driver can speak to the Signaller to confirm if the track ahead is clear.
-
What are we doing about it?
-
Engineers are on site and are working on a fix
-
Whilst this is the case our services will not be able to run to Portsmouth Harbour. Our services will instead run as far as Portsmouth & Southsea where they will terminate.
-
What are my options?
-
We are sorry for the delay to your journey today. Below are the current options available to you:
-
Option 1: Use the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner to check if a journey by rail is currently possible. If you are at a station please check the Live Departure Boards or speak to a member of our station team.
-
Option 2: Your ticket can be used, at no extra cost, in both directions on the following local bus routes. Just show your rail ticket to the driver:
-
First Bus route 1 between Portsmouth (Hard Interchange Stop F), Portsmouth (Guildhall Stop B) and Fratton (Fratton Bridge).
-
First Bus route 2 between Portsmouth Harbour (Hard Interchange), Portsmouth & Southsea (Guildhall), Cosham (Interchange)
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First Bus route 3 between Fareham (Bus Station Stop B), Cosham (Health Centre), Portsmouth (Guildhall) and Portsmouth (Hard Interchange Stop E).
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First Bus route 8 between Portsmouth (Hard Interchange Stop G), Portsmouth (Guildhall) and Cosham (Health Centre).
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irst Bus route X4 between Southampton (WestQuay Stop BI), Fareham (Station) and Portsmouth (Hard Interchange Stop G).
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Option 3: Replacement transport, provided by us such as a buses, coaches or taxis, have not been requested as there are other alternatives in place to allow you to continue your journey. The time taken to resource vehicles and the journey time by road is likely to be significantly longer that it would be for you to use one of the other alternative options. We will continue to monitor the need for this as the situation develops and provide any updates here.
-
Option 4: Travel at a later time. You might want to consider postponing your journey until our service returns to normal.
-
Let us help you:
-
Don't worry if you're already travelling when disruption happens, we'll get you where you need to go. If you miss the last train of the day due to cancellation or because another train was delayed, we wont leave you stranded.
-
If you require help, further information or would like to provide feedback, to help us improve in the future:
Speak to our staff at the station or on the train.
Use the Customer Help Point on the platform.
Message us on X @GWRHelp, Facebook Messenger @gwruk, Instagram @gwruk or WhatsApp 07890 608043. Our team is available weekdays between 06:00 - 23:00 and on weekends between 07:00 - 23:00.
Call our Customer Support team on 03457 000 125, who are available between 06:00 and 23:00.
Call National Rail Enquiries on 03457 484 950, who are available 24 hours a day.
-
Delay Repay:
-
If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can apply for Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
Good to see so many options offered and the explanations. Most Coffee Shop members will already know what an axle counter is - however, useful stuff for wider and guest readers and I comment the completeness of the data.
As a pendant - I would suggest Option 5 - to walk from Portsmouth and Southsea to Portsmouth Harbour which is not far and probably what I would do, but that would need to be phrased carefully to avoid being seen as a cheeky suggestion. Option 3 is NOT an option for passengers at all, of course - it's an option that the disruption planning team will have considered, but then (rightly in this case IMHO) have ruled out.
| Re: Portsmouth & Southsea and Portsmouth Harbour - closed, 1.12.2025 Posted by John D at 08:10, 1st December 2025 | |
And just to add to the 'fun' on Portsmouth trains, now signalling problems near Dean too.
Sensibly GWR have reminded everyone that if you miss connections don't need to pay extra and can claim delay repay
Quote :
Due to a fault with the signalling system between Salisbury and Romsey trains have to run at reduced speed.
Impact:
Train services running through these stations will be delayed by up to 10 minutes. Disruption is expected until the end of the day.
Customer Advice:
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There is a fault with the signalling system in the Dean area. The signalling system is how trains are kept a safe distance apart and directed onto the various lines along their journey. When there is a fault with the signalling system trains may need to stop at the affected signals so that the Driver can speak to the Signaller to confirm if the track ahead is clear.
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As trains are still running you should travel as normal and catch your intended train. If you miss a connection as a result of being delayed, your ticket will be accepted, at no extra cost, on the next available train.
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You can check your journey using the National Rail Enquiries real-time journey planner.
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If you are at a station, please check the live departure boards or speak to a member of station staff.
-
Delay Repay:
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If you arrive at your destination 15 or more minutes late because your GWR train was delayed or cancelled, you can apply for Delay Repay compensation. Please keep your ticket and visit GWR.com/DelayRepay
