Media centre

Tuesday 25 Nov 2014

Four-week countdown until major train service changes for passengers in KENT

Region & Route:

| Southern

Passengers in Kent are being urged to check before they travel on Southeastern services as the countdown to major changes to trains through London Bridge railway station begins.

The journeys of thousands of people will be affected as Network Rail continues to rebuild London Bridge railway station as part of the £6.5bn government sponsored Thameslink Programme, which will allow more trains and better reliability on one of Europe’s busiest rail routes.

From Monday 22 to Wednesday 24 December some Charing Cross trains will not call at London Bridge in the morning peak. Then, on Monday 12 January 2015 until August 2016, Charing Cross trains will not call at London Bridge and some services will be diverted to alternative London terminals.

David Statham, managing director for Southeastern, said: “The work taking place at London Bridge will transform the station, creating a new concourse that will be bigger than the pitch at Wembley Stadium, a lighter station, and more services so that passengers can connect to trains running to more destinations.

“This will mean big changes to the way that some of our passengers travel over the next three years and so we’ve designed a new robust timetable to maintain journey opportunities and deliver maximum capacity. We’ll extend Cannon Street station’s opening hours and deploy more staff at each stage of the timetable change to help customers though the period of change.

“We’re also working with Network Rail to make sure passengers have as much advance notice and information about their journey options as possible.”

Simon Blanchflower, Thameslink programme director, said: “In the long run our work here will improve the journeys of millions of passengers across the south, but we understand that until we’ve finished some people may have to change their journey to or from London.

We’ve worked very hard to make sure there are alternative routes so please plan ahead and find one that works for you. Thank you again for your patience.”

Ticketing:

For passengers affected between Saturday 20 December and Sunday 4 January, valid National Rail tickets will be accepted on certain routes on London Overground, Thameslink, Southern, Southeastern, South West Trains, London Underground, Tramlink, DLR and London Buses.

From January to the end of August 2016, National Rail tickets to and from London terminals issued by Southeastern, Thameslink, Southern and South West trains will be accepted at limited Underground stations in South London without extra charge.

London Bridge Underground station is not affected by the work.

Some season tickets which expire after 4 January 2015 will need to be reissued to allow them to be used at selected Transport for London ticket gates. Operators are contacting season ticket holders to advise them of the process.

To plan your journey and check where your ticket will be accepted, visit ThameslinkProgramme.co.uk