Network Rail Engineers will be working in the sunshine this August Bank Holiday as they embark on a long weekend of major engineering works in Kent, East Sussex and South London.
This major overhaul project comes as part of an ongoing £1.25bn maintenance scheme which aims to replace worn-out points and track across the lines at New Cross. Unfortunately these Bank holiday works will mean that there will be no trains to Charing Cross or Cannon Street on 27th & 28th of August and a very limited service will run from Tonbridge Hastings to London Bridge.
The points which allow trains to cross from one train to another are unfortunately very worn through years of wear and tear, and often can be a source of disruption. Replacing these points will ensure the reliability of trains into London.
Networks Rail’s route Director for Kent, Fiona Taylor said:
“We know passengers often experience disruption on the busy route from Lewisham and New Cross into London and our work this weekend will be a really important part of our ongoing £1.25bn programme of improvements to the railway in the area.”
“It’s impossible to do this scale of work overnight as we’re digging up a huge junction where lines cross each other, which will take all three days, so I apologies if you were hoping to travel into Charing Cross this weekend. There will be other routes into central London open from Ken and the South East via Blackfriars and Victoria, so do check before you travel and make sure you know your alternative journeys.”
Although the works at New Cross are a focal point of this major infrastructure project, there will be a further initiative to install new signalling and control equipment in South London. Unfortunately, this will mean that there will be no services across the railway around West Norwood, including Streatham, Peckham Rye, Herne Hill and Tulse Hill.
A railway bridge replacement coming between Ashford & Hastings will also cause further disruptions. This will see trains starting and terminating at Ore, and buses on the rest of the line over all the Bank Holiday weekend.
Passengers are advised to plan their journeys ahead of time to ensure no unexpected interruptions.
