Rail users are being advised to check before they travel in the Dartford area as work to replace the track and points at Slade Green junction, up the line towards London, starts this weekend.

The £4.5 million project will reduce faults and delays at the heavily used junction, where lines from South East London and Greenwich meet each other on their way to Dartford and into Kent.

It is a key part of the South East Upgrade where a record £1.25bn is being invested to upgrade track, signalling, structures, earthworks, stations and depots.

Train services between Barnehurst /Plumstead and Dartford will be affected over five consecutive weekends from tomorrow (Saturday) until Sunday, February 14, and then again on the weekend commencing March 13. Passengers are being advised to plan ahead and check journey planners.

The current track is nearly 50 years old and is in a critical location to and from the depot where trains are stored and maintained.

The works include the renewal of seven switch and crossing units over 316 metres of track. Around 2,900 tonnes of ballast will be used during the project and 820 railway sleepers will be replaced.

Virtual drop-in sessions have been arranged for people to find out more about the scheme.

'It will mean more reliable journeys for our passengers...'

Network Rail’s route director for Kent, Fiona Taylor, said: “This investment in our railway is the largest in history and has already delivered major benefits for Kent’s rail passengers.

“For safety reasons, our work often needs to be carried out while trains are not running and we ask our neighbours to bear with us during any disturbance. Rest assured that we will be keeping noise levels to an absolute minimum.”

Scott Brightwell, Southeastern Train Services director, said: “The junction at Slade Green is a heavily used part of our network and I am pleased that it is being renewed as part of the South East Upgrade.

"It will mean more reliable journeys for our passengers but there will unfortunately be some weekend disruption. A bus service for essential travel will be operating for our customers.”

The work each weekend will be split into four phases. Firstly, preparation works will take place to setup the work site, then the main track renewal will take place using excavators and engineering trains, excavating the track bed, and then replacing the rails and ballast using a special track-laying machine and road/rail diggers.

Next the newly-laid ballast will be tamped down with a special train, packing it under the rail sleepers to ensure the track sits in the correct position. Finally, the engineering team will complete any welding and check that the track is settled and safely in place for the running of trains.

The works will all be carried out overnight between midnight and 5am.

You can find out more at www.networkrail.co.uk/SouthEastUpgrade

Passengers can find out more by visiting www.networkrail.co.uk or telephoning the 24-Hour National Helpline on 03457 11 41 41 quoting Slade Green Junction Track Renewal.

Two virtual drop-in sessions have been arranged for local residents to learn more about the scheme and put questions to the project team. More details can be found by calling the number above.

For travel information, contact National Rail Enquiries via the website at www.nationalrail.co.uk or by telephone on 03457 484950.

Make sure you are following guidelines over permitted travel during the pandemic.

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