Travellers are facing disruption as Abbey Wood station will close during most weekends in 2016 while Crossrail work continues.

Rail bosses are urging passengers to check their journeys before travelling as Network Rail continues to build a new station and tracks for the Crossrail programme.

The project team plans to use the closures to move the existing railway tracks and create space for new ones between Abbey Wood and the new tunnels at Plumstead.

Construction workers will also continue to build the new station and platforms for Southeastern and Crossrail services, which will open at the end of 2017.

Sarah Brown, project lead at Southeastern said: “We’re sorry for any inconvenience these weekend closures may cause, but are confident that this major investment will transform Abbey Wood station and deliver huge benefits for passengers."

Network Rail says the journey from Abbey Wood to Canary Wharf and Bond Street with Crossrail will be around 20 minutes faster and to Heathrow 40 minutes faster.

Peter Hume, senior programme manager at Network Rail, said: “We make every effort to minimise disruption to passengers but we can only complete some of our work when the trains are not running.”

A bus replacement service will be available for passengers wanting to travel to and from London and tickets will be accepted on DLR routes between Lewisham and Greenwich.

More information and specific dates of the closures can be found at: http://www.southeasternrailway.co.uk/your-journey/engineering-work/crossrail/.