Media centre

Easter Bank Holiday engineering work is taking place on lines around Hither Green in South East London, to improve rail services in the region, meaning trains will be diverted or replaced by buses for four days. 

• Network Rail engineers have completed heavy maintenance work and track renewals at New Cross station, Westcombe Park and Bickley
• Coronavirus Crisis brings new look at engineering work as essential projects are prioritised to keep railway running safely for key workers and freight carrying food and medical supplies

The railway between East Grinstead and Lingfield reopened to passenger trains this morning after nearly two months without services.

Network Rail remains on track to complete landslip repairs to reopen the East Grinstead railway line for key workers and passengers for whom travel is absolutely essential, on Monday 30 March, although the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak could still cause a delay.

• Line on target to reopen on Saturday 28 March supporting key workers needing to travel and freight deliveries
• Repair involves building an access road through a flooded field and the installation of 250 metres of 13 metre deep steel sheets to secure the embankment

Network Rail Southern Region operations teams are working hard to keep signalboxes and control centres open 24/7, despite losing staff to self-isolation and sickness during the coronavirus crisis.

Network Rail Southern Region was successful at the 22nd Rail Business Awards, winning two awards and also receiving a highly-commended title.

For the next two weekends, 7 and 8 March and 14 and 15 March, buses will replace trains along the Greenwich line between Deptford/Blackheath and Plumstead stations, as Network Rail works to lay nearly a kilometre of new track, sleepers and ballast on the line.