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Monday 12 Aug 2024

Blackheath Tunnel reopens after 10-week closure

Region & Route:

Southern: Kent

The Blackheath Tunnel reopened on Monday 12 August following 10-week closure for essential repairs

• The 175-year-old tunnel needed repairs to its brickwork to stop water leaks damaging the railway

• The £10m programme of investment will help deliver better journeys for Southeastern customers by reducing delays and improving reliability.

The Blackheath Tunnel reopened on Monday 12 August following a 10-week closure as part of a £10m programme of essential repairs.

With the tunnel open Southeastern will resume its normal timetable, running four trains per hour between Dartford and Cannon Street via Charlton, Blackheath, and Lewisham.

As part of this phase of work Network Rail and its delivery partner the Southern Integrated Delivery (SID) used a specialist industrial vacuum to clean soot from the tunnel lining which has built up over the years when steam trains used the tunnel. More than 10 thousand bricks were used to repair damage to the tunnel lining to help reduce delays and improve reliability. Detailed structural and ground surveys were carried out ahead of further work next year.

The work was needed as the mile-long tunnel, which opened in 1849, is prone to leaks and water damage. This is because of brickwork damage caused by the freezing and thawing of rainwater that filters through the ground into the tunnel.

While the tunnel is safe, the leaks and very wet conditions inside it damaged track and electrical equipment over time, causing delays and speed restrictions. In the last year faults in the tunnel led to around 1,000 minutes of delay for Southeastern customers.

David Davidson, Network Rail’s Route Director for Kent, said:

“We’re grateful to everyone’s patience while we’ve undertaken the work within Blackheath Tunnel over the last 10 weeks.

“We’re in the process of renewing everything within the tunnel, which includes replacing the track. That means we’ll need to return to Blackheath to complete this work over the next few years so that we can keep this Victorian-era structure in the best possible condition. We will now assess the further repair work needed for next year and will keep passengers and stakeholders informed on next steps.”

Scott Brightwell, Southeastern’s operations and safety director said: 

“The repairs that have been carried out in the tunnel will help to deliver better journeys for our customers, and I want to thank them for bearing with us while it was closed over the summer.

With the tunnel re-opening we can run our normal timetable again, and at the busier times there will be four trains per hour between Dartford and Cannon Street via Charlton, Blackheath, and Lewisham. Please check before you travel from Monday 12 August.”

The Blackheath Railway Tunnel was opened on 30^th July 1849 as part of the route connecting Blackheath and Charlton stations.