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Thursday 24 May 2018

Check before you travel in the South East this late May bank holiday as Network Rail improvement work continues – especially in South London

Region & Route:

| Southern

Network Rail engineers will be out in force again this late May bank holiday, with work across the region to upgrade and repair the South East’s railway.

Passengers are urged to check before they travel as there will be diversions and changes to train times, most notably in South London.

Network Rail route managing director John Halsall said: “By doing these projects on a bank holiday we will affect fewer people than at any other time. This is especially true of South London, where our railway carries thousands of commuters every weekday.

“We do a great deal of maintenance work at night, which doesn’t affect trains, but the jobs we do at bank holidays can’t be done like that as they are too big and too disruptive. And of course, if we don’t do this kind of work, the railway will only get less reliable.

“So many thanks to all our passengers for their understanding and patience and keep checking before you travel.”

Ellie Burrows, Southeastern’s Train Services Director, said: “Work to improve our railway continues this May bank holiday, and working together in partnership with Network Rail, we’re investing to deliver the essential maintenance that we need for a more reliable railway in London and the South East. I’d encourage all our passengers to plan ahead and check before they travel by following us on Twitter @SE_railway, or checking our On Track app or website for the latest information."

Major projects that will affect the train service include:

• Three bridge replacements in south London (Westdown Road, Catford, Bellenden Road, Peckham, and Camberwell Grove and Windsor Walk in Denmark Hill).
• Track renewals in Sevenoaks Tunnel and Oxted
• Repairs to Polhill Tunnel (between Sevenoaks and Orpington)
• Points refurbishment at Charing Cross
• Signalling work at Lewisham

Work to improve track quality on the Brighton Main Line will affect some train times and some overnight services will be diverted to London Bridge, however the line will remain open.

In addition, Thameslink passengers are advised to check before they travel on the day as some short-notice changes are expected to the timetable over the weekend.