Network Rail’s launching a publicity campaign to warn people of the big changes taking place to train services along the Greenwich line, which will involve most of Charlton’s trains being permanently routed away from Charing Cross and into Cannon Street instead.
Staff will be at Charlton station during Thursday and Friday’s rush hours to talk about the changes, and will also be at other local stations in coming days.
The changes are prompted by the rebuilding of London Bridge for the Thameslink programme, which will cut the connection to the Charing Cross tracks. It’ll also mean many trains won’t be able to call at London Bridge for three years from 2015.
Here’s the press release…
To raise passengers’ awareness a number of information events will take place at affected stations from next week including Maze Hill, Westcombe Park, Deptford, Charlton, Greenwich, St Johns and New Cross.
Leaflets and information will be available to passengers outlining the changes which include:
* For all passengers from January 2015, services to Waterloo East and Charing Cross will not stop at London Bridge for nearly 20 months.
* For passengers using the Greenwich line from January 2015 onwards, Charing Cross services will be diverted to Cannon Street.
* For passengers using New Cross and St Johns from January 2015 onwards, Waterloo East and Charing Cross services will not stop at New Cross and St Johns stations.
* For all passengers from August 2016, no Cannon Street services will stop at London Bridge for nearly 16 months.
Fiona Taylor, Network Rail’s route managing director for Kent, said: “Thameslink will transform the railway in London and the south east of England, providing greater capacity and better journey options for millions of passengers. To rebuild London Bridge station and carry out the complicated track work on the approach to the station, it is unavoidable that there will be a certain level of disruption.
“We are working closely with all train companies which operate through London Bridge to keep this disruption to a minimum and are committed to providing passengers with as much information as early as possible. The end result of this investment will be a vastly improved service which will better meet the demands of passengers.”
Southeastern managing director, Charles Horton, said: “Although Greenwich line passengers will eventually see a much improved station at London Bridge, we understand that these works will be disruptive and our customers will be inconvenienced.
“We’re sorry about this and are working in partnership with Network Rail, Transport for London and other train operators to do what we can to minimise the inconvenience, advise on alternative travel options and keep passengers informed.”
Full details of the public information events are:
Maze Hill: 21-22 October, 7am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm
Westcombe Park: 21 – 22 October, 7am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm
Deptford: 24 – 25 October, 7am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm
Charlton: 24 – 25 October, 7am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm
Greenwich: 29 – 31 October, 7am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm
St. Johns: 28 October, 7am – 10am
New Cross: 29 – 31 October, 7am – 10am and 4pm – 7pm
As part of the Thameslink Programme the layout of the tracks around London Bridge station are being changed. When the programme is complete, each service will have dedicated routes allowing more trains to run. The new layout means trains on the Greenwich line are unable to continue on to Waterloo East and Charing Cross. From January 2018, you’ll be able to travel to Waterloo East and Charing Cross by changing at London Bridge.
Passengers can find out more about the Thameslink Programme by visiting www.thameslinkprogramme.co.uk where you can also sign up for email alerts or by following us on Twitter @TLProgramme.
A letter to residents from the council’s Strategic Transportation department confirms that the proposals for a 20mph zone in the streets around Victoria Way will go ahead, with work starting Monday 13 January.
The Charlton Champion 