Tuesday 21 May 2024
Essential repairs to Blackheath tunnel to start from 1 June for 10 weeks
- Region & Route:
- Southern
- | Southern: Kent
No trains will run between Blackheath and Charlton from 1 June for 10 weeks so that Network Rail engineers can carry out essential repairs
Southeastern passengers are reminded that from Saturday 1 June, trains will not run between Blackheath and Charlton as Network Rail begins 10 weeks of essential repairs to the 175-year-old Blackheath tunnel. Southeastern trains which normally run through the tunnel will be diverted via other routes during the closure. The tunnel will reopen on Monday 12 August when services between Blackheath and Charlton will resume.
The essential work will involve cleaning soot from tunnel using a specialist industrial vacuum cleaner and replacing tens of thousands of bricks damaged by the freezing and thawing of rainwater. Network Rail will also install a new concrete tunnel lining to stop water leaking into the tunnel.
These extra works will mean less disruption for customers in the long term and will be crucial for the reliable running of the railway long into the future.
A closure of 10 consecutive weeks is needed because carrying out work in cramped and narrow tunnels is incredibly difficult. Network Rail is also planning to work during the daytime and some nights to maximise the productivity of this closure.
David Davidson, Network Rail’s Kent route director, said: “Working consecutively over 10 weeks means we can reduce the overall disruption to passengers and give them reliability improvements sooner. The alternative would have been a year of weekend closures.
“We look to manage the impact of work on railway neighbours, carrying out any noisy activities during the day, but with the tunnel more than 20m underground any noise and vibration from the work will be minimal.
“After we’ve cleared the soot from the tunnel this summer, a full assessment of the extent of further repair work needed next year can be made.
“We’re really grateful to passengers and neighbours for their patience and are working closely with Southeastern to make sure everyone understands the changes and the impact on their journeys.”
Notes to Editors
Minimising disruption and keeping customers moving
To minimise disruption and keep customers moving when work is taking place, services from Dartford to Cannon Street via Charlton and Lewisham will run via Greenwich, stopping additionally at Westcombe Park, Maze Hill, Greenwich, and Deptford. This offers the option to travel on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) from Greenwich to Lewisham, which will add around seven minutes to journeys for customers who use services that normally travel through the tunnel.
The Greenwich Line will have six trains per hour at off peak times (including Southeastern and Thameslink services) and seven trains per hour during peak times.
There will be a reduction of two trains per hour via Charlton and Blackheath into Cannon Street, which will instead both run via Greenwich.
Other services will be diverted along the Bexleyheath line (primarily at weekends or late at night). Our direct services to Charing Cross on the Bexleyheath line are not affected. The Bexleyheath Line will have five trains per hour in the off peak (two to Cannon Street, one to Charing Cross and two to Victoria) and eight in the peak (four to Cannon Street, two to Charing Cross and two to Victoria).
Charlton to Blackheath line closure | Southeastern Railway
Buses
There will be no rail replacement bus service. To minimise disruption, we are funding ticket acceptance on the 89, 54, 380 and 202 bus routes (there are between four to six buses an hour) for the duration of the closure and we are working with TfL to ensure there is enough space on those buses to accommodate Southeastern customers. Using these buses will add around 15 minutes to journeys.
Customers also have the option of using the new Superloop 3 express (limited stop) bus route which runs from Thamesmead to Bromley North via Abbey Wood, Bexleyheath, and Sidcup stations. There are four to six buses an hour. We are funding ticket acceptance.
Transport for London | Journey Planner
Accessible travel
Customers with accessibility needs can make the journey by taxi between Blackheath and Charlton at Southeastern’s expense.
Contact information
Passengers / community members
Network Rail national helpline
03457 11 41 41
Latest travel advice
Please visit National Rail Enquiries
Journalists
Paul Prentice
Communications Manager
07354 529345
paul.prentice@networkrail.co.uk
About Network Rail
We own, operate and develop Britain's railway infrastructure; that's 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of the UK's largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country's train operating companies.
Usually, there are almost five million journeys made in the UK and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain's railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day. Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.
Follow us on Twitter: @networkrail
Visit our online newsroom: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk