Media centre

Thursday 21 Feb 2019

Smoother rides and more reliable journeys for passengers through Orpington

Region & Route:

Southern

Rail passengers in Kent and South London can expect better journeys through Orpington after Network Rail completed a major £6m investment to improve the railway.

Over the last four weekends old, life expired track and switches and crossings (the moveable rails which allow trains to change tracks) have been replaced with new, more modern kit to provide a smoother ride and reduce the chance of delays for passengers.

While the track and crossings were being replaced, Network Rail also cleared a large amount of invasive trackside vegetation, carried out maintenance on railway structures and embankments and worked to strengthen the bridge over Crofton Road at Orpington station.

Laura Kerrigan, project sponsor for Network Rail, said: “More than 650 trains pass through Orpington station every day making it one of the busiest sections of railway in the South East. We’re really pleased to have completed this work, which will provide smoother and more reliable journeys for the millions of passengers who rely on the section of railway to travel to work, school or for leisure. Thank you for your patience whilst we carried out this work.”

Ellie Burrows, Southeastern’s Train Services Director, said: “Above all, our passengers value punctual and reliable trains, so this investment from Network Rail at Orpington will help ensure this crucial part of our network runs as smoothly as possible.”

Stuart Cheshire, Thameslink's Passenger Services Director, said: "We welcome this important Network Rail investment in the Orpington area, which will mean better reliability for passengers using Thameslink services to and from Orpington and Petts Wood."