Network Rail has celebrated the completion of a number of key infrastructure upgrades across Kent, Sussex and south London – all of which were finalised over the festive period.
Works were carried out over a period of 12 days, and included the refurbishment of track and equipment at switches and crossing/points at Ashford, Gatwick, Three Bridges, Elephant and Castle, Wadhurst and Lee.
Elsewhere, wooden sleepers were replaced and track was re-aligned on bridges and viaducts between Cannon Street and London Bridge.
Power supply upgrades were also completed at London Bridge and Cannon Street, as well as in the Loughborough Junction area. Network Rail has stated that, in the coming years, roughly 150km of electric conductor rail will be replaced, alongside 92km of high-voltage cable. These upgrades are intended to stop power drops leading to stalled trains, failed signals and disrupted journeys.
South Bermondsey station has received a full rebuild, with new steel frames, a non-slip surface, improved drainage and lighting installed to both improve safety and the overall passenger experience.
Finally, work was progressed on a number of signalling upgrades at Lewisham in preparation for impending arrival of a new signalling system due to be switched on in south-east London next Christmas.
David Davidson, Chief Operating Officer for the South Eastern Railway said:Thank you to passengers for managing journey changes over the festive period, and thanks also to all colleagues who worked over the Christmas and the New Year period.
We know there is never a good time to close the railway – with passenger numbers lowest at this time of year, fewer peoples’ journeys were disrupted.
