Major engineering works will disrupt south coast train services during the Easter holidays.

Network Rail's £86 million investment programme will lead to line closures and amended services across the country, including on the Wessex route in Hampshire.

South coast services, particularly between Southampton and Portsmouth, will see changes from Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 20.

Key sections of the line will be closed as engineers stabilise a railway cutting between Swanwick and Fareham, which has been prone to landslips.

Mark Goodall, Wessex route director for Network Rail, said: "We understand that shutting down such a large stretch of railway along the south coast will cause disruptions and we sincerely apologise to passengers for any inconvenience."

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Other works will include repairs to the footbridge at Hamble station, vegetation management between Fareham and Swanwick and the replacement of wheel timbers on the viaduct over the River Itchen.

Rail maintenance work will also be carried out to ensure smoother journeys.

Passengers are advised to plan ahead and check with their train operator before travelling, as services in the wider Southampton area will be amended at weekends.

From Saturday, April 12 to Sunday, April 20, buses will replace trains on various routes, including Eastleigh to Southampton Central, Southampton Central to Fareham and Southampton Central to Bournemouth.

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Peter Williams, customer and commercial director for South Western Railway, said: "Customers looking to travel with us over the Easter holidays should plan ahead, as buses will replace trains on our routes between Southampton Central, Bournemouth, Fareham and Romsey; Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier; and in the Strawberry Hill area."

Other service changes will also take place over Easter, including the replacement of trains with buses between Twickenham and Teddington in south west London from Saturday, April 19 to Monday, April 21.

Jenny Saunders, customer service director for Southern, said: "We’ll be running buses between Havant and Southampton Central for one week during the Easter break as engineers make the most of quieter days on the railway to deliver essential upgrade works."

Passengers are encouraged to plan their journeys and check for updates.