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Thursday 13 Jul 2017

What’s your destination? Rail passengers reminded of closures in August and early September

Region & Route:

| Southern

Johnny Cash sang “Is her destination Victoria station? Where the trains go out and the trains come in.”

Passengers arriving at Charing Cross station this morning were greeted by a fully-staged Johnny Cash tribute act, to remind them that between 26 August and 2 September there will be no Southeastern trains at Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge but their train may be diverted to Victoria or an alternative station.

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend and four working days afterwards, Network Rail will continue to rebuild London Bridge station and the surrounding railway, as part of the Thameslink Programme, to deliver more regular, more reliable journeys to and through London.

There will be no Southeastern services to or from Charing Cross, Waterloo East and London Bridge; trains will be diverted to alternative London stations: Victoria, Blackfriars, Cannon Street or Waterloo. On Saturday 26 and 27 August there will be no Southeastern trains to or from Cannon Street, Charing Cross and London Bridge while there will also be a reduced Southern service to and from London Bridge.

During these eight days, Network Rail will move the Charing Cross lines from Kent into their final position through London Bridge and through the Bermondsey Dive Under, and connect these lines into the new signalling system. This will mean that from January 2018, Southeastern and Southern services will be able to ‘dive under’ the new Thameslink lines, reducing delays and improving the experience for millions of passengers travelling to and through the landmark new station.

Simon Blanchflower, Network Rail’s Thameslink Programme director, said: “I understand that passengers may feel frustrated about the potential disruption during these eight days, but this crucial investment, part of Network Rail’s Railway Upgrade Plan, will make a real difference to the journeys of the millions of people who use this busy stretch of railway each year. Thank you for your patience and please do make sure to plan ahead and check before travelling this summer at www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk/2017“

Ellie Burrows, Southeastern’s Train Services Director, said: "It is really important that you plan your journey before you travel. We’ve been working with Network Rail and DfT to plan this work so that it has the minimum impact, but if you travel to or from our three major London stations you will be affected so it is crucial that you check before you travel.  We'll be running longer trains where and when we can, and we have been working closely with Transport for London to secure ticket acceptance on a number of alternatives routes, for information on how these station closures will impact you please visit southeasternrailway.co.uk/travel-information/thameslink-programme”

ENDS