Thameslink, Southern and Overground trains in South London are to be disrupted for seven days over October half-term as Network Rail brings an upgraded signalling system online. Officials say the work will mean that no services will run on parts of the network for seven days, from Saturday, October 26, to Friday, November 1.
The enhancements taking place between Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill and Peckham Rye are part of a £400 million programme of investment in track and signalling upgrades that Network Rail is delivering in South London, bosses say. They add that a previous phase of signalling improvements between East Croydon and London Victoria in 2022 saw signalling related delays 'cut by more than half'.
Network Rail says that it hopes the current phase of upgrades will deliver similar benefits for passengers.
READ MORE: Elizabeth line and GWR trains to be disrupted 'until 2030' with more stops at London Euston Station
Full advice
Thameslink
During a seven-day closure from Saturday 26 October to Friday 1 November, Thameslink passengers travelling between Herne Hill, Wimbledon and Sutton are being advised to use London Buses or alternative National Rail, London Trams or London Underground routes.
Southern
On Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 October there will be no Southern services between Balham and London Bridge; London Victoria and West Croydon (via Crystal Palace); or London Bridge and Streatham.
There will also be no trains between London Bridge and Beckenham Junction. Replacement buses will only run between London Bridge and Streatham Common, via Peckham Rye and Tulse Hill. For all other routes, paper tickets will be accepted on local London Buses.
From Monday 28 October to Friday 1 November, no trains will run between London Bridge and Streatham nor London Bridge and Beckenham Junction. Trains which usually run between London Bridge and London Victoria, and between London Victoria and West Croydon (via Crystal Place), will only run between London Victoria and Streatham Hill. Additional trains will run between London Bridge and Sutton via West Croydon.
Replacement buses will only run between London Bridge and Streatham Common, via Peckham Rye and Tulse Hill. Paper tickets will be accepted on London Buses for all other routes.
London Overground
London Overground services between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction will be replaced by buses throughout the seven-day closure from Saturday 26 October to Friday 1 November.
In addition, London Overground trains between Sydenham and Crystal Palace are also suspended from Saturday 26 to Tuesday 29 October to allow the improvement works to take place. If you are travelling to and from Crystal Palace on Saturday to Tuesday, you should use local buses via any reasonable route.
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From Saturday 26 to Tuesday 29 October there will be an amended service on routes between Highbury & Islington and West Croydon and New Cross. From Wednesday 30 October to Friday 1 November some Crystal Palace and New Cross services will be re-timed. Please plan ahead and check before travel.
Lucy McAuliffe, Network Rail’s Sussex route director, said: “It vital that we continue to invest to modernise our assets and give passengers the delay free journeys they expect. Signalling upgrades between East Croydon and London Victoria in 2022 saw delays cut by more than half and we are expecting this phase of signalling upgrades in the Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill and Peckham Rye areas to deliver a similarly impressive reduction in delays when it comes into use.
“We know the work means days of major changes to journeys for passengers and we are sorry for the disruption. Please plan ahead, look out for further updates and follow travel advice.”
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