Train services in south east London will be severely disrupted over the festive period, as extensive engineering works are set to take place.

From Monday December 27 to Monday January 3, the timetable through the Lewisham area will be affected. 

Buses will replace trains on the Hayes line during and there will bepartial closures on the Grove Park line from Orpington and along the Sidcup line from Dartford. 

A bus replacement service will be in operation.

Network Rail engineers use will use this time to upgrade the track and signalling systems while fewer passengers are travelling.

As usual, the railway will be closed on Christmas Day and Boxing Day with work taking place across the area.

Engineers are upgrading the switches and crossings which are the moveable sections of track that guide trains from one track to another and allow them to cross paths, along the St Johns/Lewisham route to Grove Park and along the Sidcup line.

Work also takes place at other locations across the Southeastern route, including wheel-timber renewals on the bridges between London Bridge station and Cannon Street, and a strengthening of the railway cutting at Ramswood in Swanley to prevent landslips.

Southeastern Train Services Director, Scott Brightwell, said: “Our key focus is winning back those passengers that stopped travelling by train during Covid and I hope the timetable changes over the festive period don’t cause too much inconvenience.

“This essential work does help to improve the reliability of our service and when we can’t run trains a replacement bus will be operating.”

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