Network Rail engineering works in London & the south east includes major work affecting services to Gatwick Airport

Work on the railway is taking place over the Christmas period to support planned major infrastructure upgrades enhancing capacity, performance and reliability on the network.

A spokesman for Network Rail said:
"Years of planning go into these works which we undertake during holiday periods when are fewer people travelling by rail. Nonetheless we try to ensure any disruption is minimised for those who are travelling and that they are informed as far in advance as possible."

Brighton Mainline work – services to London Victoria, London Bridge & Gatwick Airport

The largest programme of work on the railway this Christmas will take place on the Brighton mainline between London Victoria station and Gatwick Airport. Between Christmas Day and early 2 January 2014, Network Rail will carry out three significant infrastructure upgrades. This work will have an impact on services operated by Southern, Gatwick Express, First Capital Connect and First Great Western.

The three schemes:

* A new platform and associated track and signalling work at Gatwick Airport to provide greater flexibility for train services calling at the station from February 2014

* A major junction replacement between Redhill and Purley (Stoats Nest junction) that to remove the need for speed restrictions and increase the railway’s reliability

* New signalling between London Victoria and Battersea will be completed, building on previous work carried out to upgrade the infrastructure and provide a more reliable service

These upgrades will improve the Brighton main line, a critical aspect of the Thameslink route, resulting in a more reliable rail network serving Gatwick Airport, London Victoria and beyond.

While work is taking place, passengers may have to take different routes or transfer on to replacement bus services for parts of their travel. This will mean that journeys from London to Gatwick may take up to 90 minutes.

Elsewhere in London and the south east

There will be planned engineering work elsewhere on the railway network in London and the south east with many train companies operating a revised timetable. In some cases this will mean a limited or ‘Sunday’ service running.

Sections of the network involved in the region include:

• Track renewals near Watford
• New overhead lines between London King’s Cross and Wood Green
• New signalling between London Victoria and Ramsgate
• Re-constructing the Lea Valley Viaduct in Tottenham
• Re-modelling of Gravesend station to accommodate future 12 car services
• Power supply upgrades to the New Cross area

There will also be work carried out to progress Crossrail where there will be a significant programme of work on the approaches to the new Paddington station interchange as well as preparatory Crossrail works at Old Oak Common.

London Bridge will also see upgrade works throughout the festive season with work continuing on the complete redevelopment as part of the Thameslink Programme.

The key message to passengers is to ‘check before you travel’, using the National Rail Enquiries website www.nationalrail.co.uk/christmas.

December 18, 2013