Media centre

Wednesday 13 Nov 2013

New bridge coming to Gravesend station

Region & Route:

| Southern

This weekend, Gravesend station will get its first new footbridge since the 1800s.

It’s part of a £19m development for Gravesend, which will see a new platform constructed to allow 12 car trains to call and make the station fully accessible.

The new footbridge, being installed by contractors C Spencer, is designed to be accessible and will be provided with lifts, which will come into use in the New Year.

Network Rail’s route managing director for Kent, Fiona Taylor, said: “This is the first major step in the development at Gravesend, a development which will make a real difference to passengers.

“It’s a difficult job to get something so large into the station and, as a result, we will need to stop trains from running through Gravesend on Sunday, as well as making some minor changes to road traffic in the area.

“We’re sorry for any disruption this may cause. We are confident that passengers will really benefit from the works planned for the station.”

The original footbridge will remain in place for two weeks, before being lifted out on Sunday, 1^st December. It will be stored and donated to a heritage railway.

Southeastern’s Customer Relations Manager, Alison Nolan said: “The benefit of this project will enable us to run longer trains through Gravesend and the station will be made fully accessible. However in order for Network Rail to carry out this major work, we won’t be able to run services through the station over the next three Sundays and for 15 days over the Christmas and New Year period.

"We realise this will be an inconvenience to our customers so we’re providing a range of alternative travel options. Detailed station-by-station travel advice is available on our website and timetables will be delivered to stations shortly.”

As a result of the work at the station, including to the track, there will be no trains between Northfleet and Higham the next three Sundays – November 17, 24 and December 1. Replacement buses will be in place to connecting services at Ebbsfleet, Strood, Greenhithe (for Bluewater) and Meopham. For full details and to plan your journey, visit the Southeastern website (southeasternrailway.co.uk).

The overall project, which is being delivered by partners C Spencer Ltd, is due for completion in March next year. However the major work over the Christmas period will require 15 days of major construction at the station as the track layout is redesigned and the new platform installed. Because of this, there will be no trains from Gravesend station from December 22 to January 6. Network Rail is working with train operator Southeastern to minimise the impact this work will have on passengers’ journeys.