Trains cancelled on day of rail line's reopening

Trains have been cancelled due to staff shortages on a branch line that officially reopened earlier after a week of repairs.

The line between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier in Hampshire closed on 26 October to replace almost a mile (1.6km) of track.

Previously, Network Rail said services had resumed, although South Western Railway (SWR) said no trains were running due to a lack of staff.

In a later update, SWR said some trains were running although services might be cancelled or revised until 19:00 GMT.

SWR also said it had booked rail replacement buses from 15:45.

The firm said: "We apologise for the disruption and are encouraging customers to check before travelling on this route by using a journey planner."

Network Rail previously said the week-long track work was essential for the line's reliability.

The route will be closed again from 21 December to 6 January 2025 for improvements to the rail viaduct over Lymington River.

The 5.5-mile (9km) branch line runs through the New Forest, connecting the main line at Brockenhurst with Isle of Wight ferries at Lymington Pier.

You can follow BBC Hampshire & Isle of Wight on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.