Network Rail completes major festive upgrades across Kent, Sussex, and South London

Network Rail has completed a series of major upgrades and maintenance works across Kent, Sussex, Surrey, and south London over the Christmas period, targeting platforms, track, and power supply systems.

Over 12 days, engineers worked on track and equipment at busy switches and crossings at locations including Ashford, Gatwick, Three Bridges, Elephant and Castle, Wadhurst, and Lee. These points, where trains change tracks, are among the most complex and heavily used sections of the railway, requiring regular maintenance to ensure reliability.

Between Cannon Street and London Bridge, wooden sleepers were replaced and tracks re-aligned on bridges and viaducts. With hundreds of passenger and freight trains, some weighing up to a thousand tonnes, passing daily, these works are essential to maintain service for Southeastern, Southern, Thameslink, and Gatwick Express services.

Power supply improvements were also carried out at London Bridge, Cannon Street, and the Loughborough Junction area. Network Rail is investing in replacing around 150km of electric conductor rail and 92km of high-voltage cable over the coming years. These upgrades are intended to prevent power drops that can cause stalled trains, signal failures, and travel disruption.

At South Bermondsey, station platforms were fully rebuilt with new steel frames, non-slip surfaces, upgraded drainage, and improved lighting to enhance both safety and the passenger experience. Meanwhile, signalling upgrades continue at Lewisham in preparation for a state-of-the-art system set to be commissioned by 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.”

Image: Network Rail