Several busy train stations will be closed while works are completed
Passengers will need to plan ahead this weekend as a number of busy Southeastern train services will be replaced by buses as engineering works are completed across the network. Trains along several key routes will be impacted including services via Medway, Ashford and Orpington.
On both Saturday (January 10) and Sunday (January 11), there will be no Southeastern services via Lewisham due to works closing the station and the Bexleyheath line. As such, rail replacement buses will run between New Cross and Dartford via Bexleyheath calling at all stations.
Key stations including Blackheath, Eltham, Bexleyheath and Barnehurst will be closed on both days and served by the replacement buses only. Then on Sunday, buses will replace trains between Rochester and Rainham as works close all lines.
These buses will run between Strood and Rainham, calling at all stations. No Thameslink trains will run between Gravesend and Rainham on this date.
Also on Sunday, trains will not be in service between Ashford International and Dover Priory. Accessible rail replacement buses will instead operate between Ashford International and Dover Priory calling at Folkestone West and Folkestone Central only, and Ashford International and Dover Priory calling at all stations except Westenhanger.
A minibus will run between Sandling and Westenhanger. Finally, buses replace trains via Orpington due to works between Petts Wood and Sevenoaks closing all lines.
Buses will serve passengers all day, running between Bromley South and Orpington calling at all stations, as well as between Chislehurst and Sevenoaks calling at all stations. See below for a detailed breakdown on all of these works.
Southeastern engineering works – Saturday, January 10 and Sunday, January 11
No Southeastern trains via Lewisham – Saturday and Sunday
Works will be taking place at Lewisham, closing the station and the Bexleyheath line. Services will be impacted as follows:
- Woolwich line: On Saturday, trains between London Cannon Street and Dartford that usually run via Lewisham and Woolwich Arsenal, will run via Greenwich instead of Lewisham.
- Bexleyheath line: Trains between London Victoria and Gravesend/Dartford will not run and trains between London Charing Cross and Dartford via Bexleyheath will not run.
- Services between London Cannon Street and Slade Green via Bexleyheath will be diverted to run via Sidcup and will not stop at Lewisham.
- Hayes line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Hayes will not stop at Lewisham.
- Sidcup line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Dartford via Sidcup will not stop at Lewisham.
- Grove Park line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Sevenoaks will not call at Lewisham. On Sunday, these trains will run at different times than usual and will only run between London Charing Cross and Chislehurst because of further engineering work.
Accessible rail replacement buses will run between New Cross and Dartford via Bexleyheath calling at all stations. Passengers can use the following alternative transport options at no extra cost:
- Docklands Light Railway between Lewisham and Greenwich.
- London Bus routes: P12 and 78 between Peckham Rye and Nunhead, 484 between Denmark Hill and Lewisham, 21, 225 and 273 between Hither Green, Lewisham and New Cross, P4, 284 and 122 between Lewisham and Ladywell.
- London Underground between Victoria, Charing Cross, Embankment, Cannon Street, Waterloo, Southwark, and London Bridge.
The following stations will be closed all day and will only be served by accessible buses:
- Lewisham
- Blackheath
- Kidbrooke
- Eltham
- Falconwood
- Welling
- Bexleyheath
- Barnehurst
Buses to replace trains between Rochester and Rainham – Sunday only
Engineering works are planned between Rochester and Rainham, closing all lines. The following services will be affected:
Southeastern
- Sole Street Line: Trains between London Victoria and Ramsgate/Dover Priory via Chatham will only run between London Victoria and Rochester. Additional trains will run between Rainham and Ramsgate/Dover Priory.
- Highspeed via Gravesend: Trains between London St Pancras International and Ramsgate via Faversham will only run between London St Pancras International and Rochester.
- Highspeed via Ashford International: Trains between London St Pancras International and Margate via Canterbury West will be extended to run to/from Faversham.
- Sidcup Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Gravesend via Sidcup will be extended to run to/from Strood.
Accessible replacement buses will run between Strood and Rainham calling at all stations. No Thameslink trains will run between Gravesend and Rainham.
Passengers can use their tickets at no extra cost on:
- Southeastern trains between Gravesend and Rochester
- Southeastern replacement buses between Rochester and Rainham
Rail replacement buses between Ashford International and Dover Priory – Sunday only
Engineering work is taking place between Ashford International and Dover Priory, closing some lines. Services will be impacted as follows:
- Highspeed via Ashford International: Trains between London St Pancras International and Ramsgate via Dover Priory will only run between London St Pancras International and Ashford International. Additional trains will run between Dover Priory and Ramsgate.
- Paddock Wood Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Dover Priory via Tonbridge will only run between London Charing Cross and Ashford International.
Accessible buses will run between:
- Ashford International and Dover Priory, calling at Folkestone West and Folkestone Central only
- Ashford International and Dover Priory, calling at all stations except Westenhanger
- A minibus will run between Sandling and Westenhanger
Buses to replace trains to and from Orpington
Engineering work is taking place between Petts Wood and Sevenoaks, closing all lines. There will be no trains via Orpington all day. Passengers are advised that the following services will be affected:
- Paddock Wood Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Ramsgate/Dover Priory via Tonbridge will run at different times than usual for part of the journey and run via an alternative route between London Bridge and Sevenoaks.
- Trains between London Charing Cross and Dover Priory will only run between London Charing Cross and Ashford International because of further engineering work.
- Hastings Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Hastings will run at different times than usual for part of their journey, will be diverted via an alternative route and will not be able to stop at Orpington.
- Bromley South Line: Trains between London Victoria and Orpington will only run between London Victoria and Bromley South.
- Grove Park Line: Trains between London Charing Cross and Sevenoaks will only run between London Charing Cross and Chislehurst and will not stop at Lewisham because of further engineering work.
Accessible replacement buses will run between:
- Bromley South and Orpington, calling at all stations
- Chislehurst and Sevenoaks, calling at all stations
The following stations will be closed and will only be served by accessible buses:
- Petts Wood
- Orpington
- Chelsfield
- Knockholt
- Dunton Green
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