Essential work will see rail travel affected over weekends in October, November and also over the Christmas Period

The vital work will take place from Sunday the 25th of December until Tuesday the 3rd of January and will see Network Rail engineers remove old and life-expired signalling equipment. The work will also see the state-of-the-art, £160 million signalling system which has been installed on lines between London Victoria and Clapham Junction and Balham, brought into use.

Preparation work to bring the new signalling system into use will also be carried out on:

• Saturday the 15th and Sunday the 16th of October
• Saturday the 29th and Sunday the 30th of October
• Saturday the 26th and Sunday the 27th of November

These periods of work will see engineers put extra cabling in place as well as the installation of signalling gantries and signalling posts.

Kristine Harris, Network Rail, senior project manager, said: “Over the past two years, we’ve been working around the clock to modernise the signalling system in the Clapham and Balham area.

“This Christmas, our teams will be testing and bringing the new signalling system into use ahead of commuters returning in January.

“We know there is never a good time to close the railway but by working for ten consecutive days over the holidays when lines are significantly quieter, means we can get the work completed more quickly and reopen the railway lines on time.”

Further to switching on the ultra-modern signalling equipment, Network Rail engineers will also alter the track layout for a rail junction at Clapham Junction station and will include the removal of a set of points which when complete will mean that trains can cross the section at greater speed and will bring improvements in reliability for customers using south London lines into London Victoria station.

The installation of 115 new ticket gates at London Victoria station will also bring improvements in accessibility for customers, cutting delays to trains created due to queueing and congestion at ticket gates, especially during the Christmas period. This project has taken two years to complete.

Chris Fowler, Southern’s customer services director, said:

“We really appreciate our customers’ patience while Network Rail carry out these vital improvement programmes. The results will be quicker and more reliable journeys in and out of Victoria and a more comfortable experience in the station itself.

“We’re advising people to check journey planners in advance, and for those travelling in and out of central London to use London Bridge or Blackfriars, and their Tube links to Victoria if necessary.”

Passengers are reminded that when the planned essential work is being carried out, no Southern or Gatwick Express trains will operate between East Croydon and London Victoria station. Passengers are also being advised to plan their travel ahead and to use Southern and Thameslink services to London Bridge and Blackfriars during this time.