A clear summary of the incident, the operators involved and guidance for travellers
The disruption that hit the Reading–Newbury/Basingstoke corridor on the evening of Wednesday 25 February 2026 caused widespread delays and forced operators and emergency services to work quickly to restore normal running. Below is a clearer, more readable account of what happened, who was affected, and what travellers should do now.
What happened and who responded
– Incident logged: 19:05, Wednesday 25 February 2026. – Site declared cleared: 00:04, Thursday 26 February 2026. Final bulletin reporting normal running: 00:06, Thursday 26 February 2026. – Location: lines between Reading and Newbury/Basingstoke.
– Responders: local emergency services and rail staff from multiple operators attended and coordinated the response. Technical teams inspected infrastructure and controlled the safe re-opening of the corridor.
Operators and routes affected
– Services impacted included CrossCountry, Great Western Railway (GWR) and South Western Railway (SWR).
– Affected routes ranged from regional and commuter links (Reading–Basingstoke, Reading–Newbury) to longer-distance services (CrossCountry routes such as Manchester–Southampton/Bournemouth and Birmingham–Bournemouth; GWR services from London Paddington to Newbury/Bedwyn/Totnes; SWR routes toward Salisbury and branches to Gillingham and Yeovil Pen Mill). – Rail control centres kept a reduced service where possible, deployed replacement buses on some sections and prioritised passenger safety and platform clearance throughout the night.
Practical status
– All lines on the corridor reopened and services were reported as running normally by 00:06 on 26 February 2026. – Operators issued revised timetables and travel updates during and after the incident.
If you plan to travel on this corridor
– Always check the operator’s website or app (GWR, SWR, CrossCountry) and National Rail Enquiries before you leave. Timetables, platforming and vehicle types can change quickly after an incident. – Allow extra journey time for travel in the hours after an incident; residual delays and revised workings often persist. – Expect some journeys to include rail-replacement buses, altered calling patterns or different routing. Replacement transport can increase journey times and may affect platform or pick-up locations. – Ticket acceptance and refund rules vary by operator; follow the guidance published by the company that sold your ticket. Keep tickets and receipts if you intend to claim compensation.
Planned engineering work (Mortimer–Basingstoke)
– Separate to the emergency incident, planned engineering work remains scheduled between Mortimer and Basingstoke on specified weekends. Those works will close all lines on those days and require temporary service changes. – On affected days GWR and SWR have advised that Sunday services between Reading and Basingstoke will be replaced by buses calling at intermediate stations except Reading West. Travellers for Reading West should instead use trains via Newbury/Bedwyn. CrossCountry warned of longer journey times and altered stopping patterns; some CrossCountry services may not call at Basingstoke, Winchester or Southampton Airport Parkway.
Accessibility and practical tips
– If you need step-free access or assistance, contact your operator in advance so staff can arrange help and confirm how replacement buses will accommodate wheelchairs and mobility aids. – Allow extra time for boarding, alighting and connections. Expect longer dwell times and occasional platform changes. Use real-time apps, station information screens and help points to verify updated timetables and boarding locations. – If you travel with cycles, bulky luggage or specialist equipment, check carriage policies beforehand—replacement buses often have strict limits. – If you incur extra costs or delays, keep receipts and note actual arrival times to support any Delay Repay or refund claim.
Quick checklist before you travel
– Check GWR / SWR / CrossCountry and National Rail Enquiries for live updates. – Allow extra time for your journey and connections. – Confirm boarding points and accessibility arrangements. – Keep tickets and any receipts if you might claim compensation.
Summary
The incident reported at 19:05 on 25 February was secured and cleared by 00:04 on 26 February, with services between Reading and Newbury/Basingstoke returning to normal shortly afterwards. While emergency response restored safe running quickly, planned engineering works on some weekends will still affect the corridor—so check official sources before you travel.
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