Barnes Bridge Closure to Disrupt Local Rail Services
Passengers will need to rely on bus replacements for nine days
A bale of hay hangs from Barnes Bridge to indicate work in progress. Picture: Network Rail
August 14, 2025
Rail passengers travelling through this part of London are being advised to plan ahead as South Western Railway prepares for a nine-day closure of the Barnes Bridge section of the Hounslow Loop. From 23 to 31 August , trains will be suspended between Barnes and Kew Bridge while Network Rail carries out essential strengthening works on the historic bridge.
The closure will have a direct impact on services to and from Brentford, Isleworth, Syon Lane, and Kew Bridge, with rail replacement buses operating throughout the affected period. On weekdays, trains will run between Feltham and Kew Bridge, but passengers travelling beyond Kew Bridge toward Barnes will need to transfer to buses. On the weekends of 23–24 and 30–31 August, the disruption will extend further, with buses replacing trains between Feltham and Barnes via Hounslow.
The works involve replacing the bridge’s middle girders, which bear the weight of the tracks and trains, and installing new wheel timbers—support blocks beneath the rails—with longer-lasting, eco-friendly materials expected to last 50 years. Network Rail says the upgrades will improve reliability and reduce future maintenance needs.
The timing of the closure coincides with Brentford FC’s first home match of the Premier League season against Aston Villa on Saturday 23 August, prompting concerns about travel disruption for fans. Network Rail has said it is working with both clubs to ensure supporters are informed and can plan accordingly.
In addition to the bridge works, engineers are also refurbishing the passenger footbridge at Chiswick station. That structure has been closed since 2 August and will remain shut until 15 September, with a pedestrian diversion in place via Grove Park Bridge.
This latest phase follows similar upgrades carried out in summer 2024, when engineers strengthened the bridge’s steelwork and lifted a speed restriction that had previously slowed services across Barnes Bridge.
The works are part of a broader effort to modernise infrastructure along the Hounslow Loop. While the improvements are expected to enhance long-term service reliability, the short-term disruption will affect thousands of daily passengers across the borough.
South Western Railway has urged travellers to check schedules and allow extra time for journeys. Replacement buses may be busier than usual, and accessibility arrangements will vary by station.
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