Network Rail are continuing to upgrade the network around Kent and South East London, as part of the £1.25 billion South East Upgrade.

The main work over the Christmas period took place at Ashford International. Work included installing a new and improved drainage system, six sets of points and their signalling equipment were installed, and the track off the ends of platforms 3-6 were replaced.

This will improve reliability on the Southeastern High Speed and Eurostar services.

In South East London, a new signalling system is being installed on the lines that pass through Hither Green. Work will also continue to prevent landslips on the Bexleyheath line at Barnehurst, during a 9-day closure of the line from the 15th to the 23rd of February 2020. This is part of an £81 million project to improve the network in South East London.

Other projects across the network are also in progress including:

• Work on the platforms at Charing station, Footbridge work at Dover Priory and Canopy painting at platform work at Nunhead station.
• Electrical work at Dollands Moor.
• Stabilisation at Barming Rock cutting and at Barnehurst.
• Signal testing and cable works between New Cross and London Bridge.
• Track Renewal between Swanley and Rochester.

What did the officials say?

Network Rail‘s route director for Kent, Fiona Taylor, said:

“Christmas and New Year is always our busiest time of year for engineering work because the trains themselves are less busy. I know passengers travelling through Ashford will have had longer journeys whilst we rebuilt the railway there and I’m really grateful for their patience. All this work is vital to improving the reliability and resilience of our network, keeping passengers moving through the 2020s.”

Ellie Burrows, Train Services Director for Southeastern, said:

“Above all, our passengers expect a reliable and smooth journey and the hard work by Network Rail’s teams over Christmas is a testament to that – it will make a big difference to their journeys over the coming years and we thank people for their patience while journeys may have taken a little longer than usual. As a result of some of the work that we’ve begun, passengers will also notice more improvements to stations over the coming months with the beginning of a programme of refurbishment work.”

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