A planned week long closure of part of South London railways has been cancelled, and trains in the Tooting, Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill and Peckham Rye areas will now run as normal during the school half-term (Monday 12th through to Friday 16th February).
The switch-on of a new signalling system in South London, which was due to close large parts of the National Rail and London Overground network is being re-planned to later in 2024.
Trains in the Tooting, Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill and Peckham Rye areas will now run as normal.
However, services will still be impacted on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th February while preparatory work is carried out.
Network Rail is now working with train operators to secure another date later in the year when the new, more reliable signalling will be completed, fully tested and brought into use.
The upgrades taking place between Crystal Palace, Tulse Hill and Peckham Rye are part of a programme of investment in track and signalling upgrades worth more than £400 million that Network Rail is delivering in South London. The work will see the old and unreliable 1980s signalling equipment replaced with the latest technology to improve journeys for passengers, along with track upgrades at key locations on the network.
A spokesperson for Network Rail said: “We’ve seen a 55% reduction in signalling delays following the switch-on of the renewed signalling between Balham and Victoria, and we’re expecting similar benefits from this
“However, following internal reviews which form a critical part of the robust assurance process for any large-scale project of this kind, we’ve decided to re-plan the commissioning phase of this project and will announce a new date as soon as we can.
“We will still close these sections of track on Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 January as this will allow us to carry out critical work ahead of the commissioning to minimise disruption for passengers later.
“While we’re disappointed we can’t give passengers these benefits by February, we’re working closely with operators to bring the new system into use as soon as possible.”
During this period, Southern trains in the affected areas will therefore be impacted as follows:
- On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February, there will be no Southern trains between London Bridge and Streatham via Peckham Rye and Tulse Hill, no trains to Beckenham Junction, and no trains between Balham and Norwood Junction via Crystal Palace or between Balham and Sydenham via Crystal Palace.
- From Monday 12 to Friday 16 February, Southern trains will now run as normal in this area.
- On Sunday 18 February, there will be no Southern trains between Tulse Hill and London Bridge.
During this period, Thameslink trains in the affected areas will be impacted as follows:
- On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February, there will be no Thameslink services between Herne Hill and Wimbledon / Sutton.
- From Monday 12 to Friday 16 February, trains on this route will now run as normal.
During this period, London Overground services will be affected as follows:
- On Saturday 10 and Sunday 11 February, London Overground services will be suspended between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction and from Sydenham to Crystal Palace.
- From Monday 12 to Friday 16 February, London Overground trains will now run normally.
- On Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 February, London Overground services will be suspended between Surrey Quays and Clapham Junction for further Network Rail signalling improvements.
The Overground was shut for seven weekends and the whole Xmas week to new year (10 days) Clapham Junction to Surrey Quays and somehow that’s not enough to leave this poor, tortured stretch of Line alone? It’s actual availability is WAY worse than GWR/Liz Line and TPR yet they (rightly) get headlines for poor service, but when is somebody going to ask when Lambeth/Southwark residents are going to actually have a reliable service at weekends?