Network Rail has announced it is investing £1.25billion to railways in Kent and south east London to give passengers better journeys with fewer delays.

The investment covers upgrades to tracks, signalling, embankments, structures, stations and depots.

Network Rail has said it is investing a quarter of a billion pounds to improve the track and signalling through the area of Lewisham station, and another billion pound investment to upgrade the network in Kent and south east London.

The funding is aimed at tackling “decades of under investment” in the Kent network, replacing ageing equipment with new, reliable technology to support train performance.

Key projects include Bexleyheath line improvement work, Hither Green signalling, Lewisham railway upgrades and Peckham Rye station upgrades.

As part of the south east upgrade, Network Rail is investing more than £340million to replace over 200km of track and equipment at key junctions across the route – more than £340million will also be invested in replacing and improving the signalling systems in Kent and south east London.

A total of £133million will be invested in improving stations and buildings as many on the route date back from the Victorian era.

The money will go towards modernising the stations to accommodate rising passenger numbers.

More than £177million will be invested in replacing or refurbishing structures on the route, including 100 underbridges, 12 overbridges, 23 footbridges and one tunnel.

More than £75million will be put into strengthening embankments and cuttings on the route.