This Christmas, Network Rail engineers will be working to upgrade a busy junction in Lewisham.

Lewisham Junction is on the approach to the station and controls more than a third of Southeastern trains travelling and out of London each day.

A total of eight points will be replaced between Saturday 24th and the 2nd January along with new track and ballast and 1,000 metres of third rail, which provides power to the trains.

The work means no trains will run through Lewisham, St Johns, New Cross or on the Bexleyheath line throughout the 10 day closure.

A replacement bus service will run from Dartford and New Cross via Bexleyheath and Lewisham.

Fiona Taylor, Network Rail’s Kent route director, said: “I’m really happy we’re able to invest £10.5 million to renew one of the busiest railway junctions in London.

“Passengers will be all too aware that Lewisham is such a busy and critical part of the railway with more than 800 trains passing through every day. So even a minor track or signalling fault can cause trains to quickly stack up behind each other, with disruption rippling across the railway.

“This junction renewal will replace fault prone 1960s and 70s kit which will allow more trains to run through to London, meaning a better service for passengers with fewer delays.”

Scott Brightwell, Southeastern’s operations and safety director, said: “We’re sorry about the inconvenience this line closure will cause our customers over Christmas, but it is essential improvement work that needs to be done on a very busy part of our network.

“We’re running a replacement bus service along the affected line and our other London routes will be open as normal. Please check journey planners before you travel.”